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BOSTON
PUBLIC
tlBl^RY

This is an authorized facsimile of the original
book, and was produced in 197^ by microfilm-
xerography by Xerox University Microfilms,
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A.

CHRONICLES

OF THE

ARMSTRONGS

EDITED BfY^ *
JAMES LEWIS ARMSTRONG, M. D.

• • • _ > »

•• ;•. .•-

THE MARION PRESS

JAMAICA, QUEENSBOROUGH, NEW-YORK

1902

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THE LISHAflV OF
CONGRCJt,

OIT. y.i 190?

C< AF.fi A. IM^ Mo

200 copies printed.

• • •

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• • •

.-^v^'^^xi

In compiling this work the writer has had the advan-
tage of not only visiting the most prominent localities
mentioned, but of having lived in them. The main
chain of facts in the history is based upon chronicles
and records of acknowledged validity, while other
sources of information have been fitly used to supple-
ment and illustrate the narrative. I have endeavored to
give the sources of information in almost every instance.
It would have been impracticable and unnecessary to
have given every record found pertaining to the Arm-
strongs; those presented are the most important ones,
and sufficient to act as landmarks to the descent of this
remarkable race. Of this I feel certain, that the early
part of every Armstrong's lineage, if he comes rightly
by the name, is in this book. The old spelling, occur-
ring occasionally, was used mostly to preserve the
etymology and significance of names which in modern
orthography would have become obscure; moreover,
they accord with the originals.

Among those who extended exceptional help to me,
and to whom I feel very grateful, were:

George Washington Armstrong of Boston, Massa-
chusetts.

Edwin E. Armstrong of Detroit, Michigan.

Leonard A. Morrison of Windham, New Hampshire.

Professor Francis James Child of Harvard University.

John Armstrong Herman of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Miss Isabel Armstrong of Westcombe Park, London.

Colin Armstrong of New York.

Richard C. Fosdick of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Richard S. Armstrong of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Sir William George Armstrong of England.

Sir Arthur Vicars of Dublin, Ireland.

Robert Bruce Armstrong of Edinburgh, Scotland.

William Armstrong of Caulside, Canonbie, Scotland.

Edward Armstrong of Terwinney, County Ferma-
nagh, Ireland.

J. L. A.

LIST OF CONTENTS

PACE

Records of Siward ...... i

Traditions of Siward and his Son Asa Beorn . lo

Records of Siward's Sons and their Children . 47

Customs of the Liddesdale Folk ... 60

The House of Maingertoun .... 86

Armstrongs of the Seventeenth Century . 296

Armstrongs of the Eighteenth Century . . 348

Armstrongs of the Nineteenth Century . 391

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PACE

The Milnholm Cross . . . . . 90
The Hollows Tower, commonly called Gilnockie's 1 26
The Tablet at Caerlanrig . . . .154

The Hollows Tower, another view . . 316

Portrait of Thomas Armstrong of Detroit, Mich-
igan, a descendant of John of Longfield . 360
Upwards of 30 engravings of shields, coats-of-arms,
seals, gravestones, etc.

tai

Cbnmiclejtf of tfyt %tm0wmiift

LIST OF BALLADS

Jamie Telfcr (in part)

Alexander, Murdered by Soulis

Cout of Keeldar (in part)

The Fate of Soulis

The Heart of Robert Bruce (selections)

Sir John Armstrong's Marriage

The Flowers of the Forrest (fragment)

The Ballad of Johnie Armstrang

The Song of Johnie Armstrong (with music)

Johnny Armstrong's Last Good-night

lonne Armestrong .....

Other versions of The Ballad of Johnie Arm-
strong (fragments) ....

Jock o' the Side .....

lohn a Side ......

Northumberland Betrayed by Douglas (in part)

Raid of the Reidswire (in part)

Archie of Ca'lield .....

Archie o Cawfield .....

Dick o The Cow .....

Lord Maxwell's Good Night (in part) .
Kinmont Will .....

Hobbie Noble ......

The Fray o' Hautwessel ....

Will a Grenah's Death

The Death of Simon, Ninth Lord of Mangerton

••This night is my departing night"

Christie's Will ....

PAGE

. 66

• 93

. 96

104

. 120

^55

• 159

162

.165

167

. 217

222

. 229

232

. 236

240

. 249

260

. 263

275

. 281

292

n 293

298

. 312

Cl^tonfclcjS of tlfte anrnstrongjj

CHRONICLES OF THE ARMSTRONGS

aSccorDjs of ^ttoarD.

IWARD THE ARM STRONG,

earl of Northumberland, first of the
name and ancestor of the renowned
Border family of Armstrongs, was
one of those stalwart figures which
will never pass away from the pages
of history nor yet tradition. In his physical strength and
prowess, wit and wisdom, loftiness of character, heathen
defiance of danger and death, he was undoubtedly a
Christian, for he built the munster at York; but he re-
minds us of those old heroes of the Edda from whom
his ancestors were said to have descended. He was the
last of the great Anglo-Danish jarls, and disdained that
his royal blood should descend to any mean sphere. He
acquired* honour to England by his successful conduct
in the only foreign enterprise undertaken during the
reign of Edward the Confessor. (Johannes Bromton.
Saxo Grammaticus. George Stephens.)

Duncan, king of Scotland, was a prince of gentle dis-
position, but lacked the genius requisite for governing so
turbulent a country as Scotland, and one so much infested
by the intrigues and animosities of the great Macbeth, —

2 C[)ronitIeiB( of tl^e ^Cmijertrongiar

a powerful nobleman and nearly allied to the crown, who,
not content with curbing the king's authority, carried
still further his pestilent ambition: he put his sovereign
to death; chased Malcolm Kenmore, his son and heir,
into England; and usurped the crown. Siward, whose
daughter by his first wife was married to Duncan,
(Buchanan, Ridpath, and Boethius,) embraced by Ed-
ward's orders the protection of this distressed family;
he marched an army into Scotland, and having defeated
and killed Macbeth in battle, restored Malcolm to the
throne of his ancestors. This service, added to his for-
mer connection with the royal family of Scotland,
brought great accession to the authority of Siward in
the North. (David Hume.) The following are his-
torical records of our renowned ancestor.

Eadulf, brother of Aldred, earl of Northumbria, hav-
ing committed depredations on the Welch by which he
provoked the displeasure of King Hardicanute, was on
his way to make his submission and obtain a reconcilia-
tion when Siward, who succeeded him in the earldom,
slew him. (Ridpath.)

Siward's second wife was Aelfled, daughter of Aldred,
earl of Northumberland. After slaying Edulph the sec-
ond, the brother of his then deceased father-in-law, who
had become earl, he obtained for himself the earldom
of Northumberland, with an authority extending from the
H umber to the Tweed. He had had by a former wife
a son Osbern, (Ridpath, Anglo-Saxon Chronicles; called
Young Siward in the play of ** Macbeth,") who was killed
by Macbeth at the battle of Dunsinmore. Siward had
by Aelfled a son who after an interval succeeded to his

' tlttorti^ of 4bttoarb 3

father's earldom under the name of Waltheorf II, the
daughter and co-heiress of whom married King David I
of Scotland. (Florence of Worcester.) Hodgson sug-
gests that the title to the possessions the kings of Scot-
land long held in Tynedale, which is partly in Cumber-
land and partly in Northumberland, may have originated
in this marriage.

This year Hardicanute, king of England,
* sent his huscarls through all the provinces of
his kingdom to collect the tribute which he had im-
posed. Two of them were slain by the citizens of
Worcester. This so incensed the king that to avenge
their deaths he sent Thorold, earl of Middlesex, Leo-
fric, earl of Mercia, Godwin, earl of Wessex, Siward,
earl of Northumbria, Roni, earl of Hereford, and all
the other English earls, with almost all his huscarls and
a large body of troops, to Worcester. On the fifth day,
the city having been burnt, they marched off loaded
with plunder, and the king's wrath was satisfied.
(Florence of Worcester, 1041.)

This year was Edward consecrated king, and

^*'* this year the king was advised to ride from
Gloucester, and Leofric the earl and Godwin the earl
and Sigwarth the earl, with their followers, accompanied
him to Winchester. [Anglo-Saxon Chronicles.)

g Earl Siward again laid claim to the manor of

^ ' Bernake, his home, which had been in the
possession of the abbot of Wulgat but appears to have
belonged to Siward's ancestor. He was successful. Ber-
nake was near the isle of Croyland, now also called
Crowland, in Lincolnshire. (Ingulph, 1048.)

H €I)roniclejet of t^t 3£mijBitron0je(

We first read of "the islanders the Beorns" in the
Anglo-Saxon Chronicles (980). They are there quoted
in verse by the chronicler. At that time the low
ground about the isle of Croyland was formed into
many isles. Croyland meant Crowland, and may
have had something to do with Beorn's standard,
which was the Danish raven. Ingulph says that this
land belonged to the Church before the coming of
the Danes.

As for these homestead lands of Bernake near Croy-
land, they were probably taken from the Saxon Church
by the Danes and awarded to Siward; Waltheorf in-
herited them. (Ingulph.)

Afterwards, "In the year of our Lord, 1061, Wulke-
tul, the lord abbot of Croyland, began to build a new
church, as prosperous times were coming on; for the
old one, which the venerable lord Turketul had for-
merly erected, threatened immediate ruin. The re-
nowned earl Waldev (Siward's son by Aelfled) aided
him with the most ardent zeal and on this occasion
gave to our monastery of Croyland his vill of Bernake,
assigning it for the building of the church." (Ingulph,
1091, 1061.)

"Below Burgley at Berneck [Barnack upon the old
maps] lye the old Stone Quarries." Beneath Berneck,
that Roman way which the neighboring inhabitants call
the "Forty-foot way," from its breadth, cuts the shire
in two between Caster and Stamford, and appears in an
high Causey; especially by the little wood of Berneck,
where it has a beacon set upon the very ridge, and so
runs along by Burgley-Park-wall. (Camden.)

Hecort)^ of ^itDarti 0

Afterwards, in 1075, the manor of Bernake was
taken from the monks and by the king's command
confiscated, in order to be presented, together with the
rest of his lands lying near the Trent, as the marriage-
portion of Juditha, WaltheorPs widow and King Wil-
liam's niece. (Ingulph, 1075.)

"Then was King Edward sitting: at Glouces-
10 't 2. .

•^ * ter. Then sent he after Leofric, the earl [of

Mercia], and after Siward, the earl [of Northumber-
land], and begged their forces. And they came to
him." "Then were they all so united in opinion with
the king that they would have sought out Godwin's
forces if the king had so willed. [Godwin objected to
King Edward's Norman friends. Ridpath.] Then
thought some of them that it would be a great folly
that they should join battle; because there was nearly
all that was most noble in England in the two armies."
"And they exacted pledges for the king from all the
thanes who were under Harold [Godwin's son] the earl,
his son; and then they outlawed Sweyn, the earl, his
other son. Then did it not suit him to come with a
defence to meet the king, and meet the army which
was with him." "Then went he by night away; and
the king on the morrow held a council, and together
with all the army declared him an outlaw, him and all
his sons." "Then went he forth to Ireland [Harold
and Leofwine went to Ireland, but Godwin went to
Baldwin's Land] when fit weather came." " It would
have seemed wondrous to every man who was in Eng-
land if anyone before that had said it would end thus."
( Anglo- Saxon Chronicles. )

6 <Cf^vomc\cft of tf^e ^Crm^Bitrongjei

This year (July 27, according to George
'^^* Stephens) went Siward the earl with a great
army into Scotland, both with ship force and with a
land force, and fought against the Scots, and put to
flight King Macbeth, and slew all who were the chief
men in the land, and led thence much booty, such as no
man before had obtained. But his son Osborn, and his
sister's son Siward (Siward, son of Duncan), and some
of his housecarls, and also of the king's, were there
slain, on the day of the Seven Sleepers. [Anglo-Saxon
Chronicles ^ 105 4-)

According to the Ulster Annals, in this battle 1500
English were on the field, besides Kelts and Scandina-
vians took part on either side; but Siward himself was
a Dane, earl of a folkland largely peopled by Scandina-
vians, many of them from the Wiking period. The
great mass of his people would doubtless be Scandina-
vians, partly from Northumbria and partly from Scot-
land and the Isles, partly from Denmark and Sweden,
the flower of whose youth would flock to his standard,
so brilliant were his qualities, so widespread his renown,
and so high his rank, nearly connected as he was with
the royal house of Danemark and Sweden. (George
Stephens, Saxo Grammaticus.)

Another Border account relates as follows: Siward,
the great earl of Northumberland, made an expedition
into Scotland to assist in seating his relation Prince
Malcolm, the son of the late King Duncan, upon the
throne of that country, which had been usurped by
Duncan's murderer Macbeth. In this enterprise, and
before it was crowned with success, Osberne, the elder

titntti^ of dS^ttDarti 7

son, and of the first wife of Siward, (Ridpath,) was
slain. Checking his natural emotion, the old earl asked
how the young man had fallen ; and being told that he
had received all his wounds in the front, like a brave
man, he said he was satisfied, and wished no better death
for himself. He did not, however, die in battle, nor
would he die in his bed (which in Denmark was called
a "straw death "), — a death he held to be dishonourable.
Soon after his return from Scotland he was attacked by
a fatal disorder. As he felt his end approaching, he
said to his attendants, "Lift me up, that I may die on
my legs, like a soldier, and not crouching, like a cow!
Dress me with my coat of mail, cover my head with
my helmet, put my shield on my left arm, and my bat-
tle-axe in my right hand, that I may die under arms!"
Siward, who was a Dane, either by birth or near de-
scent, was much beloved by the Northumbrians, who
were themselves chiefly of Danish extraction. They
called him Digr the Strong, or Siward the Strong, and
many years after his death they showed with pride a
rock of solid granite which they pretended he had split
in two with a single blow of his battle-axe. The good
Siward was succeeded in the government of Northum-
bria by Tostig, brother of the great earl Harold. (M. A.
Richardson, Ridpath, Henry Hunt, and Higden.)

" Came so his fatal sickness and his gift of his
I o c c.

•^~'' Raven-flag to our Lady's Church at York."

(George Stephens.)

, Ingulph's record places Siward's death a year

later. It reads as follows: In the year of our

Lord 1056, Siward, the brave earl of Northumbria, de-

$ €t^tmMt0 of tf^t %tm^ttonq^

parted this life, and was buried in the cloister of the
monastery of Saint Mary, which he had built, without
the walls of the city. His earldom of York was given
to Tosti, the brother of earl Harold, while the earldom
of Northampton and of Huntingdon, with the rest of
his lands, were given to the renowned earl Waldev, his
son and heir.

The Venerable Bede makes this record a year earlier,
and adds that "he lies at Galmanho," a Saxon abbey,
merged afterwards in St. Mary's, at York, **in the
munster which himself caused to be built, and conse-
crated in God's and Olave's [St. Olaf, King of Norway]

name."

The family name of Siward was Beorn, and the
name Fairbairn came from the Fairy Bear or Fay
Bairn. The name was therefore applied to the stories
of Siward and his father, which were called The Fairy
Bear Stories. (See Kingsley, Bromton.)

Here is a list of the different forms of Siward's name.
Upon the Border he was called Suord or Sword, and
also Dagger the Strong. (Boethius, William Stewart,
Richardson.) Ingulph of Croyland called him Siword
and Digr the Strong. William of Malmesbury called
him Siward and Digera, but also gives the more ancient
form of Swaerta. In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles he
was called Siward, Sigwarth, Siwarde Eorle, and Sige-
waid Beam. Roger de Hoveden called him Strennus
Dux Northumberland. In Exploits of the Border he is
called Sibert. In the Chronicles of Bromton it is said
of him, " De qua filium nomine Bernum aures ursines
habentem & in comitatu jure materno succedentum

Ilecortjjtf of ^itoarti 9

progcnuit, succcssu vcro tcmporis Comes istc Bcrnus in
Armus Strenus filium habuit quem Siwardum appclla-
vir." Bromton also calls him Siward son of Beorn,
father of Osbern, Siward Beorn, and Sigward Digr.
Kingsley, quoting from old English chronicles, calls
him Son of the Fairy Bear. In the Irish records he
was called The Strong. In the Terwinney records
he was called Fayborn and the Arm Strong. In old
manuscripts brought over by Armstrongs to North
Carolina from Londonderry, Ireland, in 171 7, he was
called The Strong.

CtaDttionjEi of ^ftDdtD anti W fion ^^ l5tottu

F this Siward, who was a person fa-
mous in his time, as shall be further
shewed anon, and of Giantlike sta-
ture, I may not omit what is re-
corded of him as to his parentage
by the Monk of Jervaulx.
The stout Earl Beorn had issue a son named Siward,
who after a time quitting his paternal Inheritance in
Denmark took shipping and with fifty of his retinue
arrived in the Islands called Oschades, where meeting
with a fierce Dragon he conquered him in Single Com-
bat and forced him to flee the land. Having so done he
put to sea again and landed in Northumberland to seek
another Dragon. When walking in a wood he met
with a reverend old man [Odin] who told him, that he
fought that Dragon which he could not find. But said
he, get you to your ship again and sail southwards to
the mouth of the river Thames which will bring you
to the wealthy city of London. And so parting with
him he gave him a standard called Ravelandeys which
signifieth "The Raven of Earthly Terror" who there-
upon coming safely to London was nobly received by
King Edward [the Confessor] with promise of no small
honor if he would stay with him.

€ratiittonjtf of ^itaart} anti l)iitf J^on 11

Whereupon Siward consenting, after thanks given to
the King departed the Court but meeting with Tosti
Earl of Huntingdon upon a certain bridge was by him
most unworthily affronted by soiling with dirt, yet Si-
ward though he took that usage very disdainfully did
not then lift up his hand against him but on his return
meeting him in the same place he cut off Tosti's head
and carried it to the King, who hearing the truth of
that passage gave unto Siward the Earldom of Hunt-
ingdon which Tosti had possessed.

Not long after this the kingdom being much infested
by Danes the great men of the land consulting with the
King did advise that the little devil should be first ex-
posed to the great devil (id est) that Earl Siward should
be placed in that part of England which was most
likely to be invaded by the Danes. Whereupon the
king committed to his charge the Counties of West-
moreland, Cumberland and Northumberland under
which title of Northumberland he had the administra-
tion of that Earldom from Humber to Twede, all
which he governed in peace victoriously subduing his
King's enemies, afterwards he sent his son called Os-
berne-Bulax into Scotland there to get what he could
by conquest, who being there slain in battle and the
news thereof being brought to the Earl Siward his
father he enquired upon what part of his body he hap-
pened to have his death wound and being told that it
was on the forepart thereof he said I am glad that my
son was worthy of such an honorable funeral.

But considering the loss of his son as hath been said
he marched with an army into Scotland conquering

12 €f^vomt\eit of tfje %tm^tt(mfifi

King Macbeth in open battle, wasted the kingdom and"
subjugating it to his own power constituted Malcolm
son to the King of Cumberland, in his stead.

And lastly apparently discerning his death he said
" How am I ashamed that I did not die in so many
battles but that I am reserved to thus expire as a beast.
Put on me therefore my armour of proof, girt me with
my sword apd reach me my helmet. Let me also have
my target in my left hand and my Gils Ax in my right
and so as the most valiant of soldiers I may die a soldier.
For in such sort it becomes a soldier to die and not as a
beast lying down to depart," all which being done he
breathed his last at York in 1055, 13th year of the
reign of Edward the Confessor, and was then buried in
the cloyster of the Monastery of Galmanho which he
had founded.

This valiant Earl had to wife Alfleda Daughter to Al-
dred late Earl of Northumberland by whom he left issue
Waltheof afterward Earl of Northumberland as I shall
show anon and surviving her married a widow called
Godgive who for the health of her soul (by consent of
Edward the Confessor) had given to the abbey of Peter-
borough two fair lordships viz. Righole and Beolme St
Hospe, which Lordship of Righole after her death he
obtained by agreement with the monks to hold during
his life and then to return to the abbey.

Of his Lands I find no mention in the Conqueror's
Survey than these, viz: Wilebi, Lochuthum, Aclum and
Englebi with the several hamlets then belonging to each
of them. (Dugdale.)

€v0hitionit of ;S>itDart> anti t)i0 ^on

Tradition of the Name.

^S'HE great and widespread Border family of
Armstrongs derives its surname from the fol-
lowing circumstance. An ancient king of
Scotland had his horse killed under him in battle, and
was immediately remounted by Fairbeorn, his armor-
bearer. For this timely assistance the king amply re-
warded him with lands on the Borders, and to perpetu-
ate the memory of so important a service, as well as the
manner in which it was performed, — **for Fairbeorn
took the King by the thigh, and set him on his sad-
dle,"— his royal master gave him the appellation of
Armstrong, and assigned to him
for a crest an armed hand and
arm ; in the left hand a leg and
foot in armor couped at the
thigh, all proper.

The above is the legend of
the Armstrongs of Ballycumber.
The crest has been used for cen-
turies by many of the Armstrong
families in Ireland. (Burke.)

The Tradition of the Three Swords.

iN old tradition of undoubted antiquity, found
among the Armstrongs about Belcoo, County
Fermanagh, is as follows.
"Fayborn seeing the King of Scotland in great peril
and partially crippled from the fall of his horse while

14 Cijrontclej^ of t^t %xm0ttimi^0

in the fierce of the battle, worked to his rescue and,
passing his left arm around the King's body under his
arms, fought his way with a great Sword through the
enemy to a place of safety, assisted by the King who
thereupon had both arms free and was armed with a
naked sword in each. For this wise and courageous act
Fayborn was knighted with land and castle upon the
Border and was thereafter called Sword of the Strong-
arm. Therefore the Armstrongs of Belcoo carry the
shield with the three arms upon it and their crest is the
Sword of the Strongarm."

This armorial device may be found upon many an-
cient stones of the Border, and also in Ireland. It will
be noticed that many of these stories end by telling of
the reward the hero received. Boethius, Holinshed,
and other early historians do the same. Among those
names we find several estate names of Liddesdale, to-
gether with the old Danish name of Merietoun, later
known by the Norman name of Maingertown. (See
1 54 1, 1597.) "In that counsall tha war maid erlis all;
and many surnames also les and moir Wes maid that
tyme qu'hilk wes nocht of befoir."

T6e Sagas of the Fairy Bear.

^^^^ORFOEUS the historian gives the Danish ver-
sion of this saga at some length. The follow-
ing is a short analysis of the ancient tale.

"Hringo, king of Upland, had an only son, called
Biorn, the most beautiful and most gallant of the nor-
thern youth. At an advanced period of life, the king

Cradition^ of ^ttDortJ anH ^i^ Jton 15

became enamoured of a 'witch lady,' whom he chose
for his second wife. A mutual and tender affection
had from infancy subsisted betwixt Biorn and Bera,
the lovely daughter of an ancient warrior. But the new
queen cast upon her stepson an eye of incestuous pas-
sion ; to gratify which, she prevailed upon her husband,
when he set out upon one of those piratical expeditions
which formed the summer campaign of a Scandinavian
monarch, to leave the prince at home. In the absence
of Hringo, she communicated to Biorn her impure
affection, and was repulsed with disdain and violence.
The rage of the weird stepmother was boundless.
* Hence to the woods!' she exclaimed, striking the
prince with a glove of wolf-skin; * hence to the woods!
subsist only on thy father's herds; live pursuing, and
die pursued ! ' From this time the prince Biorn was no
more seen, and the herdsmen of the king's cattle soon
observed that astonishing devastation was nightly made
among their flocks by a black bear of immense size
and unusual ferocity. Every attempt to snare or destroy
this animal was found vain ; and much was the unavail-
ing regret for the absence of Biorn, whose delight had
been in extirpating beasts of prey. Bera, the faithful
mistress of the young prince, added her tears to the
sorrow of the people. As she was indulging her melan-
choly, apart from society, she was alarmed by the ap-
proach of the monstrous bear, which was the dread of
the whole country. Unable to escape, she waited its
approach, in expectation of instant death; when, to her
astonishment, the animal fawned upon her, rolled him-
self at her feet, and regarded her with eyes in which,

18 Cf^vonitUft of tfje %tm^mngff

spite of the horrible transformation, she still recognized
the glances of her lost lover. Bera had the courage to
follow the bear to his cavern, where, during certain
hours, the spell permitted him to resume his human
shape. Her lover overcame her repugnance at so
strange a mode of life, and she continued to inhabit
the cavern of Biorn, enjoying his society during the
periods of his freedom from enchantment. One day,
looking sadly upon his wife, *Bera,* said the prince,
•the end of my life approaches. My flesh will soon
serve for the repast of my father and his courtiers. But
do thou beware lest either the threats or entreaties of
my diabolical stepmother induce thee to partake of the
horrid banquet. So thou shalt safely bring forth three
sons, who shall be the wonder of the North.' The
spell now operated, and the unfortunate prince sallied
from his cavern to prowl among the herds. Bera fol-
lowed him, weeping, and at a distance. The clamour
of the chase was now heard. It was the old king,
who, returned from his piratical excursion, had collect-
ed a strong force to destroy the devouring animal which
ravaged his country. The poor bear defended himself
gallantly, slaying many dogs, and some huntsmen. At
length wearied out, he sought protection at the feet of
his father. But his supplicating gestures were in vain,
and the eyes of paternal affection proved more dull than
those of love. Biorn died by the lance of his father,
and his flesh was prepared for the royal banquet. Bera
was recognized, and hurried into the queen's presence.
The sorceress, as Biorn had predicted, endeavoured to
prevail upon Bera to eat what was then esteemed a

Crotiitiotti^ of ^itDarD anti i)t0 Jtm 17

regal dainty. Entreaties and threats being in vain,
force was, by the queen's command, employed for this
purpose, and Bera was compelled to swallow one morsel
of the bear's flesh. A second was put into her mouth,
but she had an opportunity of putting it aside. She
was then dismissed to her father's house. Here, in
process of time, she was delivered of three sons, two of
whom were affected variously, in person and disposition,
by the share their mother had been compelled to take
in the feast of the king. The eldest, from his middle
downwards, resembled an elk, whence he derived the
name of Elgford. He proved a man of uncommon
strength, but of savage manners, and adopted the pro-
fession of a robber. Thorer, the second son of Bera,
was handsome and well-shaped, saving that he had the
foot of a dog, from which he obtained the appellation
of Houndsfoot. But Bodvar, the third son, was a
model of perfection in mind and body. [These names
correspond to the first Liddesdale names of Elkwald,
Loumaine, and Fairbairn.] He revenged upon the
necromantic queen the death of his father, and became
the most celebrated champion of his age." [Historia
Hrolfi Krakae Haffniaey 171 5.)

Saxo Grammaticus, who wrote about Siward's time,
gives a more plausible but nevertheless wild enough
version of this story. He mentions Beorn and Siward's
names. The next version, which is told by Johannis
Bromton in the Chronicon, is stated by Ridpath to have
been the one recited upon the Border.

"There was in Denmark a noble Earl of Blood
Royal that had one only daughter who to recreate her-

18 €f)ronicIejtf of tfyt $CrmjB(tron0jtf

self, walking with her maids into a wood not far from
her father's house met with a Bear, which bear having
put the maids into so great a fright as caused them to
flee, seized upon the Damsel and then ravished her by
which rape she brought forth a son that had ears like a
bear who was thereupon called Beorn and succeeded in
that Earldom. This Earl of the Arm Strong had a son
named Siward." (Bromton.)

The third version of the Fairy Bear was recited in
Fermanagh. It runs as foUows. "There was in olden
times a witch who hated her son who married a fay.
So the wicked mother changed her son to a Bear
and the only way he could get anything to eat was
by killing the Deer of the forest [or Elks of the
wood; that is, the Elwods], the flocks of the fields
[Far bairns], and the wolves of the desert [Lou-
maines]. One day he met his wife in the woods and
she immediately knew him by his eyes. After that
she met him frequently. At last he was killed by some
Forresters. After his death his wife had three children
the first was like a Wolf, the second like a deer, and
the third was like a sheep (or bear) and very fair." In
Denmark the White Bear was called Asa's bear and
the Fairy Bear, whence comes the name Osbeorn.
(Grimm.)

The following is the Terwinney version of the Fay-
bairn. "The first Armstrong married a dark eyed fay
with a wealth of rich black hair, she was called a prin- /
cess. Until that time our ancestors had blue eyes and
fair hair and they were therefore called such names as
Fair Johnnie and Fair Billie but after that we had Black

Cratittionjer of ^f^itoarb atOi W ^on 19

Armstrongs and White Armstrongs." This tradition
was also applied to the first Armstrong born in Ireland,
(see 1650,) but it was recited until recently upon the
Border and was applied to the house of Whithaugh.

T^e Tradition of the Sword, the Arm, and the Tree.

^"^^HE great Border ancestor of the Armstrongs
'^'^ was a duke of Northumberland, his emblem
a sword, one of his distinguishing achieve-
ments, famous in history, that of encountering his
enemy with a tree which he grasped by the trunk."
This legend is strongly indicated by the carvings in
Eskdale and Liddesdale, and also by the monuments at
Agahvea, Fermanagh. It is called the Terwinney ver-
sion.

The Tradition of the Arm and the Tree.

[ERE is the tradition as it was known by Boc-
thius and recorded by Holinshed in The Chron-
icles of Great Britain. "Malcolm hastening
after Macbeth, came the night before the battell unto
Birnane wod, and when his armie had rested a while
there to refresh them, he commanded euerie man to
get a bough of some tree or other of that wod in his
hand, as big as he might beare, and to march forth
therewith in such wise, that on the next morning they
might come closelie and without sight in this manner
within view of his enemies. On the morrow when
Makbeth beheld them coming in this sort, he first
marvelled what the matter ment, but in the end re-

20 <rf)vcnit\c0 of tf^e 3Cmiiertrongitf

mcmbered himselfe that the prophesie which he had
heard long before that time, of the coming of Birnane
wood to Dunsinane Castell, was likelie to be now ful-
filled. Never the lesse, he brought his men in order of
battell, and exhorted them to do valiantlie, howbeit his
enemies had scarcelie cast from them their boughs,
when Makbeth perceiving their numbers took flight,"
whom Suard pursued in hot haste even to Dunsinane.
In the ballad of Johnie Armstrang, which was sung
upon the Border soon after his execution, 1530, there
is a verse which clearly refers to this legend.

" Wist England's King that I was ta'en,
O gin a blythe man he wad be!
For anes I slew his sister's son,
And on his breist bane brak a trie."

John is here quoting from an older ballad, and does not
refer to himself. In addition to this there is the Shak-
speare version to be found in his play of " Macbeth."

TAe Legend of the Broken Branch.

NE of the ancient kings of Scotland riding
with his followers through a forest came to a
place where a heavy oak bough hung across
the path so low that the king could not pass without
dismounting. One of his followers named Fairbairn
came forward and grasping the heavy bough tore it
from the tree. For this feat of strength he was granted
by the king the device for his shield of a hand and arm
grasping an oak bough and was therefore known as the
Strong or Armstrong.

The above is the Carrickmakeegan version. It is
pictured upon several stone shields upon the Border,
notably the oldest Armstrong stone in Canonbie illus-
trated later in this work. (See 1733.)

Old forms of the Name Armstrong.

Airmestrang.

Airmistrang.

Airmistrayng.

Armestrang.

Armestrange.

Armestrangh.

Armestrong.

Armestronge.

Armestrongg.

Armestrongis.

Armestronke.

Armgstrang.

Armisstrang.

Armistrang.

Armstrang.

Armstronge.

Armystrand.

Armystrang.

de Armestrang.

d' Armestrang.

Ermouscon.

Harmestrang.

Harmstran.

Harmstrang.

Hermistran.

Airmestrangis.

Airmisstrayngis.

Airmistrangis.

Airmistrayngis.

Armestraings.

Armestrangs.

Armestranges.

Armestrangis.

Armestraungis.

Armestrengs.

Armestronges.

Armstrongges.
Armistranges.
Armistrangis.
Armistraunges.
Armstraugis.
Armstrangs.
Armstronges.
Armstrongges.
Ermistrangis.
(History of Lid-
desdale.)
d'Aunstron.
d'Anstron.
With the Armstrong.
Of the Strong Arm.
The Strang.
Armstrong.

^^"^^HE following is an extract from a letter to
Edwin E. Armstrong, Esq., from James L.
Armstrong, June 14, 1898.
These stories were told of Siward, Earl of Northum-
berland, called by the Normans Sebert Duke of North-
umberland. It is very evident that our forefathers
strove to perpetuate the renown of the ancestral hero,
the history of their houses, and their lineage. Old re-

22 4Lt^mtW of ti)e SCrmjtftrongitf

cords, deeds, ballads, and the numerous carvings de-
monstrate the great esteem in which they held the
memory of their ancestors. He who has intelligently
viewed the stones of Ettleton, which was not the
first burial-ground of the Armstrongs, will feel con-
vinced that they wanted to pass down to following
generations certain well-known genealogical facts pre-
valent upon the Border in their time. These stone
records have reached us. The history that has been
handed down, not because of careful preservation, but
because it is too vigorous to die, has a wonderful
charm and interest. It is not from the exact and
unromantic historian that we may look for the most
genuine spirit of the past, but from the common
people, the story tellers, ancient carvings, old charters
and deeds, old laws and poems, old ballads and letters.
From these we are able to obtain a far more varied and
interesting albeit not' so exact view of the society of a
past age, of our ancestors of the Border, than we can
ever hope to derive from the pages of professed his-
torians. The Liddesdale folk used an exceedingly simple
and striking method of effecting this object. They
studied and executed the science of expressive symbol-
ism. Knowing this, it becomes our duty to accept of
these poetic relics, not only as relics, but as records to
be utilized, which was assuredly their intention. Many
of these stone pictures have been lost or destroyed. But,
by studying those we have, we find that they depict the
deeds of Siward of Northumberland which established
his descendants upon the Border and gave them their
name. The Siward legends are the Armstrong legends.

CraUition^ of ^itoart) anH l)tjtf ^on

The name "Siward of the Strong Arm" was the name
implied by our crest, the arm and hand holding a sword.
The old Armstrong carvings of the Border and Fer-
managh not only prove the genuineness of the legends
recited within this century, but tell much more. For
example, without the monumental hieroglyphics of
Liddesdale we had only tradition to tell us that the
father of John of Gilnockie was Alexander, Lord of
Mangerton ; but it was good tradition. We knew that
the chiefs of Mangerton were buried in Ettleton, and
that they were honored with large and curious tomb-
stones. Tradition also told us that Thomas, John's
elder brother, was the seventh lord and the oldest of
seven brothers. In searching for stone records of this
great chief, Alexander, who was addressed as squire by
the King, we find the following hieroglyphics upon the
two sides of one of the largest tombstones in Ettleton.
Here the six long branches stand for the six lords of
Mangerton. Alexander, being himself the sixth, is

5 th lord of

id lord of
Mangerton

Mangerton O^^ _J^~^ Mangerton

4th lord of
P^ /\ P Mangerton

lord of
Mangerton

6th lord of

It lord of
Mangerton

24 €f^vonic\c0 of ti)t %tm0tvong^

designated by the letters AA and M. The M here
stood for Mangerton. (1510.)

On the opposite side of this stone we find the sym-
bols of "the Sword," of Alexander Armstrong, and of
Mangerton.

The old Border way of pronouncing sword was very
much like Siward. (See Border Exploits^ edit. 1 8 1 2,
p. 219.) In old Border English it was Suord, and in-
deed the both words spring from the Norse, have the
same roots, and probably the same meaning; that is,
the act of keeping guard over victory. Some writers
have supposed that this monument stood for the same
chief as the Milholm Cross did, because that too had
the letters A A and M A upon its face; but that is not
according to old recorded tradition, nor does it agree
with the opinion of expert and well-known antiqua-
rians upon the age of the monument. The Milnholm
Cross, which is near Ettleton, was erected to the mem-
ory of young Alexander, lord of Mangerton, treacher-
ously killed by Soulis of Hermitage. An old illustra-
tion gives the letters and numerals which were piously
cut away in the last century; they were as follows,
A A II, and undoubtedly meant Alexander the Second.
The cruel Soulis was killed about 1320. The fragmen-
tary existence of the oldest ballad relating to these
events was known of, and sought for, by Sir Walter
Scott, Leyden, Francis J. Child, and others, but with-
out success. Walter Scott bi New Castleton discovered
fragments of it, but supposed they referred to Lord
Douglas of Hermitage, instead of Soulis, and joined
them on to a ballad of the sixteenth century, which he

€ra0ttioni^ of ^S^ttoorti ann I)ijtf ^on 25

called "Mangerton's Death"; but his ballad really
contains several traditions, belonging to different peri-
ods. The sword upon the Milnholm Cross was proba-
bly the exact pattern of the actual sword of Fairbairn
(Fairy Bear), or Siward, maintained in the family
until won by Foster of Stanegirthside about 1594. I
have met but few outside of my own family who un-
derstood anything about the science of these symbols.
Robert Bruce Armstrong, in his history of Liddesdale,
gave us many valuable illustrations, but with no inter-
pretations. The Duke of Buccleuch, recognizing the
historical value of the Ettleton monuments, has nobly
gathered many of them together. Sir Walter Scott cer-
tainly noticed the curious carvings, but did not deci-
pher any of them. Walter Scott of Castleton evidently
did not understand them, but he has given us one or
two valuable illustrations of stones whose facings are
now lost. Sir Bulwer Lytton, whom you mentioned
in your last letter, took special interest in the stories of
the Armstrongs, and mentions them in several of his
novels. It is easy to see at whom he pointed when
writing of Beorn, the Earl of Northumberland, as
Siward of the Strongarm, in his great historical novel
of Harold. Kingston also understood this part of the
history. The rare first edition of Border Exploits (edit.
181 2, Hawick), a volume of which I am the fortunate
possessor, was subscribed for almost wholly by Arm-
strongs of the Border and their relatives. Of the first
edition there were issued only about two hundred
volumes. The author, I was informed, had been at
one time a Liddesdale schoolmaster, and was there-

26 CI)ronicIejtf of tf)e ^Crmi^trongitf

fore in a position to know and become acquainted with
many of the Liddesdale families and learn much of
their folk-lore. Among others, he evidently consulted
some well-informed Armstrongs concerning their his-
tory. He records certain facts, and gives us illustra-
tions not contemporaneous with him, but which had
probably been preserved or remembered and imparted
to him by older generations. He gives us genealogical
statements about Sibert, Duke of Northumberland, and
his son-in-law Malcolm HI. He also tells us that
Siward was upon the Border in 1055. It is quite
evident that he had entertained the idea that Siward
was a traditional hero of Liddesdale. Another writer
(Leonard A. Morrison) says, "The name Armstrong was
born in the county of Cumberland in the eleventh
century, but Cumberland anciently formed a part of the
Kingdom of Northumberland and at a later period was
held in fee simple by the eldest sons of the Kings of
Scotland." The descendants of Sebert (Norman), or
Siward (Saxon), bore the arm and hand holding an
oak-tree. The Armstrongs bore this same shield. The
oldest carvings depict simply an oak-tree or a sword.
Both these emblems have descended to us in our ar-
morial bearings. They stand for the achievement and
the name. Even to a late period, 1700, the oak-tree
was used separately as an emblem of the Armstrongs.
In the garret of the present Whithaugh is an old oak
arm-chair, upon which is carved an oak-tree and the
letter R. This carving of the tree in the initial letter
of the given name was an ancient custom of our ances-
tors, of which there are a number of examples, notably

Ccaliition^ of ^S^itDorti anti f^ifi Jton 27

the one upon the old stone built into the bridge of
Gilnockie, and the curious example upon the Gillside
stone in Liddesdale which I have been informed has
lately been removed. Several writers of folk-lore have
intimated that the well-known Border tradition of the
moving trees of Birnam Wood, in which Siward took
such a prominent part, was the one referred to by John
of Gilnockie in his plea before King James V. Then,
as an appropriate sequel, there was the legend of the
trees dying in Liddesdale upon the death of this great
chief. (See 1530.) In one of the latest revisions of
Stoddart's admirable work upon Heraldry the ancient
Aiken shield containing the arm and hand grasping a
tree is represented upon the same page and among
those of the Armstrongs. In a very brief note upon
another page it is stated that this was not the Aiken,
but the Armstrong device. In other works upon Her-
aldry it is explicitly stated that the Aikens descended
from Siward, Earl of Northumberland, and that this
shield represented the moving trees of Birnam Wood.
There are traditions in the Aiken family to the effect
that the Aikens were anciently related to the Arm-
strongs. The Shakespearean version of Siward and the
moving trees in the tragedy of "Macbeth" is identical
with the Armstrong legend, at least the one indicated
by the arm and hand grasping the trunk of an oak-
tree. Shakespeare's source of the legend was undoubt-
edly Holinshed's Chronicles. I have also been inform-
ed that both Dryden and Shakespeare drew material
from the Liddesdale ballad of John of Gilnockie; how-
ever, I have not investigated the statement. One finds

28 €^roni(Ieje( of tf)t %tm0ttonQ^

similar legends to those of Siward in the Story of the
Volsung of the Norse Edda. There the bear, the oak-
tree, and the hereditary sword figure greatly. There
we also find the great hero Sigmund (Norse), a name
with the same meaning as Siward (Saxon), whose sword
had been handed down from his forefathers. More ap-
propriate symbols could not have been chosen by Suard
the Strong (his Border cognomen), or by his descend-
ants, than the tree and the sword. To the ancient
Dane the lofty oak was sacred, as was the ash. The
God of the sword was Ziu (Odin). Siward had been a
true son of Odin, for even at his death he observed the
dictations of Norse superstitions. By maintaining the
sword and tree as their emblems, the early descendants
of Beorn were not only perpetuating the names and
achievements of their forefathers, but they chose those
subjects most precious to the skalds of their ancestral
land. We learn later from Border tradition that when
Will o* Grena lost the hereditary sword of the family,
John of Tinnisburn gave a great cry and died of grief
soon after, not because his son was killed, but because
the sword was lost, and with it went the power of the
Armstrongs. This old legend, which has a purely
Danish ring to it, contains one of the strongest super-
stitions of the old Vikings, and is exemplified both in
the Elder Edda and the Niebelungenlied. It reminds
us, in some respects, of the account of Siward's son
Osbern's death. During the eleventh, twelfth, and
thirteenth centuries family names were frequently, for
the time being, and in other cases permanently, Nor-
manized by recorders. We find the names Armestrang,

€raDitionj^ of <&itoarti ann l)i^ Jton 29

Ic Armestrang, Harmestrang, Armouscion. In those
times of intermixture of races and languages the names
were twisted into many forms, but their meaning was
seldom lost. Thus we find Raufson, Ralphstown,
Raulston, Ralton and Roolton, Raltoon and Ralston.
(An early estate name, now called Roan, upon the
Raltonburn which neighbored onto Whithaugh and
whence the house of Ralston, first represented by
Ninian Armstrong, son of Alexander of the Chengils,
takes its name.) This name is said to have sprung
from one called Ralph, by the Normans called Raoul,
and who fought with Siward against Macbeth. The
Ralstons of Renfewshire bore the three acorns upon
their shields as did the house of Whithaugh; they
stand for the battle of Birnam Wood. The Elliots
were called Aelwolds, Elewalds, Elwods, Alwods, El-
yards, Helwals, and by many other forms of the name
which meant Elk-wood (Anglo-Danish Elgwalt, the
name is expressed upon many of their shields). They
were ancient neighbors of Mangerton, and sprung, as
did the Armstrongs, from Northumbria; they were"
mentioned as early as 1165. When we consider the
numerous arrangements into which the roots of the
foregoing and many other family names of those times
were formed, it is not unlikely that the Fortinbras and
Fortenbras of the twelfth century were identical with
the Armstrongs, especially those whose names were
associated with the Anglo-Danes and relatives of Siward
the Strong. I have never learned the history of the
ancient Border family of Littles, Lyttels, or Liddles,
from books, but it has been said in Fermanagh that

Cfjronicleier of tf)e ^rmitftrongjef

these took their name from Liddal and descend from
the same great ancestor as the Armstrongs. And in-
deed their family shields, disregarding the tincture
which had little weight as far as the Border shields
were concerned, were identical with those of the Arm-
strongs,— for example, that of Archibald loth lord of
Mangerton. Why Archibald used this shield I cannot
say for sure. (See 1603.) It is purely conventional,
and differs widely from those of his forefathers; never-
theless it is simple and significant.

Shield of the Littels
of Liddesdale and Eskdale.

1603 to 161 2. Shield of
Archibald of Mangerton.

It has been conjectured that the star and crescent upon
Border escutcheons stood for the moss-trooping families
of Liddesdale "who were wont to ride by night." It
may have meant that latterly, but I believe, from the
heraldic differences that are contained in other old
Armstrong shields, that these distinguish the founder and
first lord of the house of Mangerton. Much of the mytho-
logical history of the Liddesdale and Tynedale families
is wrapped up in their names and armorial bearings, the
original significance of which has been lost. I strongly
suspect that, as in the Danish version, the important little

€ra2)itionj^ of <f>ttoarti anti f^iit Mn 31

saga of the Fairy Bear is at the bottom of the early
names and heraldry of the Armstrongs, as also of cer-
tain other Scottish and English Border families. Certain
shields of the Elliots, called also Elwods, Elyards, and
Elwalds, of the Alfords who came from near Croyland
to the Border, of Loumanes, of the Liddals, of the
Armstrongs, and other Border families undoubtedly
pictured this tradition. Now these Liddesdale fam-
ilies were called after their shields, and so were the
Forresters and others. The legend of the Fairy Bear
is found first in the Edda, then in old Danish (Tor-
feus' History of Hrolfe Kraka)^ and in the South Ger-
man (Die Missgeburt). It has travelled through many
centuries; it was undoubtedly known in the eleventh
century, and applied to the barbaric ancestor of Siward.
This legend was carried from Denmark to Northum-
berland, and from the Border to Fermanagh. Its seem-
ing coarseness would, in these times, naturally keep it
out of print and from the refined and moral, but it was
known by some of those descending from the Borderers
in' Fermanagh. I heard the Irish version when a child
from the Johnstons, about Irvinestown, Fermanagh,
who came over from the old estate. I also heard an-
other version from an intelligent farmer and distant
relative from near Irvinestown. This story is referred
to upon the old stone door in Agahvea. The devices
of the Littles gave the sheep or bear holding the
**suord," the crescent, and mullet, and in addition
other distinctions according to the generation (not
house) represented. If we may rely upon this lore, and
it is well substantiated, (see for example, History of

€f^xonit\cti of tte ^mijs^trongier

Liddesdale^ p. 103 and 178,) the origin of the Arm-
strongs is also indicated by these shields and devices.
In the Nether Kirk churchyard at Kirktown on the
Ewes water were two monuments, one of the Littles of
Meikledale, the other of the Armstrongs of Sorbie, both
the same size and both having peculiar carvings upon
them.

These two stones give us the mythological history of
the Armstrongs as follows: The sheep or bear for
"Fairbairn" (Fair or Far meant also sheep in Anglo-
Danish and O. E.); the sword for "Suord"; the thick
arm for *'of the Armstrong," ancestor of; the mullet
and crescent for "third generation or house, and second
son," ancestor of Little; the cross moline and crescent
for "eighth generation and second son," who was
Simon.

The second shield, as has been already explained,
stands for the "third house or generation and second
son," starting from Fairbairn Siward and indicating the
first of Liddesdale, i. e., the first lord of Mangerton.

€ratiiti(mj$ of 4>itDarti anti i)M ^on 33

The "arm and hand grasping the tree" illustrates
the achievement of Siward at Birnam Wood, and iden-
tifies him. This fay-bairn was the great hero ancestor;
all the genuine old Armstrong shields start from him.
Several other Border families too assumed the mullet
and crescent as charges for their shield ; some heralds say-
that they bore such distinction to mark their cadency
from elder branches. In old Border times many of the
moss-trooping families were proud of their connection
with the Liddesdale folk, and a few assumed charges sug-
gested by the shield of our own ancestors, such as the
oak branch, leaf or mullet, and crescent. Some of the
Johnstones, Hendersons, and Irvings had symbols of the
Armstrongs upon their escutcheons. There is an inter-
esting illustration given of two shields upon page 182
of the History of Liddesdale by R. B. Armstrong. These
shields are in Castleton churchyard, and to the memory
of "Mary Forrester, spouse to John Henderson in
Millsteads who died 29th of April, 1728." The first
has a deer and three hunting-horns upon it, the second
has ** upon a bend, between a mullet and crescent, three
piles." These points or triangles signify chiefs, and
also occur several times upon the remarkable slab for-
merly at Gillside, which presented a complete pedigree
of the House of Maingertoun. Other parts of the legend
will be found upon the ordinaries of the Liddals of
Tynedale, which are charged with bears* heads, and
probably upon the bear stones of Cumberland. In
Tynedale we find ancient stone references to the legend
in the crest of the Hiltons of Hilltown, which gives a
man's head with a pair of long pointed ears and, grow-

34i €\^twitk0 of ti^e SCrm^trong^

ing backward from his body, a pair of elk-horns. If
the lower extremities of this changeling had been de-
picted we would find them to have represented a sheep.
This is not, as has been conjectured, a representation
of Moses, who is said to have had horns rising from his
head. In mythology Moses had both horns and ears
upon his head; but the carving in Tynedale gives only
the long pointed ears growing from the side of the head,
and the horns depicted are elk-horns and attached to
the body of the man, clearly illustrating the Norse ver-
sion of the old legend of Biorn and his fairy children.
Upon an ancient stone, presumably an Armstrong
monument, in Cambo, Tynedale, we find a sword, and
a warrior rising from an animal resembling a bear.
Buried under the church at Newcastle-upon-Tyne was
found carved upon a broken tombstone a hand and
sword, and the tree with two roots; the arm was upon
that part of the stone which had been broken off at the
wrist and lost. After that which has been previously
stated it is not necessary for me to explain the meaning
of these oldest stones, but it appears to me that the
former refers to Beorn and his son Siward. The sword
is of the same pattern as found at Ettleton and upon
the Milnholm Cross. The shield of the Liddals of
Tynedale, which is charged with three bears' heads, is
also significant, for when added to that of the Littles
of the Ewes-water, it again illustrates the bear legend
of which Siward's birth, as related in the Brompton
Chronicles, is a part. There are also stones at Shafto-
crags in Tynedale, and many which have sunk out of
sight up the Raltonburn in Liddesdale, as well as those

Cratiition^ of jC^itDarti anti Ijijtf ^on 39

mentioned in a former letter, all of which arc heraldic
illustrations of the old legends of Fairbairn Siward of
the Strong Arm. This legend not only gave the Arm-
strongs material for their heraldic devices, but also other
families, some of w^hich have long since died out. It
is singular that the most prominent and near neigh-
bors to our old estate of Terwinney, in Fermanagh, arc
the very ones of vv^hom we have been writing, i. e., the
Hendersons, Fosters, Elliots, Irvings, Alfoords, Littles,
and others. At Agahvea, near Brookboro, the burial
place of these Border families, there are many shields,
and we may point out with warrantable assurance the
sculptured coat-of-arms that decorates the tomb of
Christie's Will's immediate descendants, whose names
may still be faintly discerned.

The house of Whithaugh, the most ancient in char-
acter of our Border ancestors, evidently maintained the
spirit of the old Anglo-Danish blood longer than the
more orderly house of Maingertoun. It appears as
though they never were Christians, for they held fast
to the old names and customs, carried off priests,
burnt down churches, and openly avowed the country,
Liddesdale, was their own and they would serve
neither the King of Scotland nor King Harry of Eng-
land, but would rule as their fathers did. Lord Hamil-
ton, in his story ** Outlaws of the Marches," intimates
the existence of an old tradition to the effect that one
of the ancestors of Simon the Larde married a gypsy
fey, and that was why they, the Whithaughs, had
lucken brows and dark hair. I do not know whence
he obtained it; perhaps it is fiction; but that strain of

30 Cbrotticlejtf of t^t SCrmiertrongjtf

tradition is found running all through the history of the
family. In fact, this was one of the causes that the
Terwinney Armstrongs gave for the names Fair Johnnie
and Black John, the Black Armstrongs and the White
Armstrongs. Upon the Border the name of Fairbairn
was used in a generic sense and denoted changeling or
fairy-child. One would have a difficult task to-day
finding this name used in any other way than as a sur-
name. But the name was given to certain mythical
characters of Northumberland such as Fabyn Flye, and
a real character called Hobbie Elliot of Castleton, who
lived about fifty years ago. It may have originally
meant sheep-boy or far-barn (Danish, Anglo-Danish,
and Old Lowland English). It may have meant simply
a blonde child, but it stood for Fairy Bear. This is
the meaning Kingsley gave it, and it is the name im-
plied by the legends. It could have been and probably
was used, as far as concerned the legendary hero, to de-
scribe all of these physical semblances. They were just
the personalities the Bear legend attributed to him.
The ballad "Willie's Ladye" is also interesting in this
connection. It is one of the oldest of the Liddesdale
songs and probably an Armstrong ballad, as are several
others of the Border not accredited to them. (See In-
troduction to ballads of "Kinmont Will" and "Willie's
Ladye" in Child's Ballads of England and Scotland.)

But to return to the Whithaughs. As before men-
tioned, the oldest symbols of the Armstrongs that we
know of, and which are still used, were the sword, the
arm, and the tree. We find these upon stones evidently
erected before 1320. I refer to the Milnholm Cross

CraHtttottj^ of ^itDard and I)i^ ^on 37

and the oldest monuments of Ettleton. Over the door
of the present residence of Whithaugh is the keystone
of the entrance to the old castle, and upon it is the fol-
lowing device:

BlgetULANClTrRMST
- ~ - xowq

Date of re-
building.

Of the inscrip-
tion only the
letters Si could
be discerned.

Berserk shield =
Bear-skin.

3 tcoms =
Bimani Wood.

Sword =

of Siwtrd.

The character of this shield does not belong to the
period of 1559, at which time Whithaugh was rebuilt,
but, although carved at that time, is probably a re-
production of one of a very old form of armorial bear-
ings. At first glance the shield appears to contain a
chevronnel couped, but upon close inspection of this
supposed ordinary we find that the peculiar shape of its
sinister end is not accidental. Upon the old stone door of
the vault at Agahvea we find among other Border pic-
tures this same symbol, only held just at the end by the
hand of a patron saint. I believe this peculiar termina-
tion to represent the handle, it may be to a wood rule
or glazier's stick, whereby the worker grasped the in-
strument. Indeed, just such insignia were used by the

38 Cf]ironiclcj( of tf)e ^Crmieitrongjtf

ancient guilds of Newcastlc-upon-Tync. It would be
interesting to know whether St. Waltheorf, Siward's
younger son, was the patron saint of the house of
Whithaugh.

The religious wave which became very strong upon
the Border towards the end of the sixteenth century
discouraged the preservation of the older heathen tra-
ditions and devices. There is much material evidence of
this. Had it not been for the singing dairy-maids and
farm-hands, as well as the most untamed remnants of the
Liddesdale folk, — such as Ringen's Tam and Christie's
Will, — it is doubtful whether we would have had any
of the riding songs to enjoy to-day. The Maingertoun
shield of 1583 is a tame modification of the one of
Whithaugh of 1559. The marring of the Milnholm
Cross, which formerly showed certain suspicious and
mysterious hieroglyphics upon its face and were cut
away, is quite demonstrative of the regard the Liddes-
dale folk of the eighteenth century had for these relics.
Walter Scott of Castleton hailed the departure of the
fairies and bogles with evident satisfaction. Perhaps it
was discovered that the old symbols and traditions em-
bodied a germ of the national idolatry of the ancient
Danes. My own grandfather thought there was some-
thing unholy in perpetuating the history of those times,
as even to-day the people of Fermanagh do, who tell
such stories slyly.

It is interesting to note the names of localities round
about Maingertoun. Such names as Langlands, Lang-
holm, Mer(ton) (see Boece), ( Canon )bie, were evident-
ly of Danish origin. Tarras stood for Thor, Tinnis

CraDittottj^ of ^itoarti anti I)i^ ^on 39

for Diens or Woden, Wcdoshelis became Woodhouselec
of ballad renown, a stronghold of the Armstrongs. Lid-
desdale was anciently called Ledesdale, and meant the Dale
of Ledes or the Valley of Song; in "Willie's Ladye"
it is called the "Land o* Ledes," and an old Low-
land proverb says "ilka land has its ain lede." The word
lede is the same as the German lied; in Germany there
are a number of Liederthals and Liedahls. The name is
found also in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, as are
many other names of places near Maingertoun, including
those already mentioned. The names of animals are
very noticeable in Liddesdale. Burnmouth was Baer-
mouth or Bear's-mouth. A little further up this burn
we find Whisgills or Oursegills, or Bear's-gill. Lou-
mane, or Wolf's-paw, a neighboring name found in his-
tory previous to 1300, exists to-day perhaps as the
Mains. Powis or Paugh Ourse was Bear's-paw. Chien-
gill meant Dog-gill. Main-ger-toun meant Hand-
weapon-town. This was the Norman abbreviation of
the crest of the "arm and hand holding a sword,"
sometimes represented by the "hand holding a spear."
The word "manus," or hand, figures in almost every
motto of the Armstrongs. The former crest was an
illustration not only of the name Siward of the Strong-
Arm, but also of the act suggested by the name of
Siward, which in English is Victory-protect. The old-
est motto and the latter crest illustrate Siward's death,
who, when told that his death was drawing near,
donned his armour, waited for the enemy as beseemed
a warrior, in an erect position as though for a battle,
and died with upraised arm clutching his spear, Invic-

4iO €f^vimiclt0 of tf)e %ttn0txcn2ff

tus maneo. It was these stories that fired the Arm-
strongs of old to such deeds of daring. Quite likely
our first ancestors of Liddesdale were acquainted with
the stories of the Edda; many of their actions, their
ballads, names, and customs, impress us with this belief.
The name Siward meant the same as the Norse Sig-
mund, the hero of the Volsung, whose son was called
in the Niebelungenlied the Swift Sword, and he was
also called The Strong. Sivret of the Niebelungenlied
was the Sigurd, son of Sigmund, of the Edda. In the
Eddaic account of Sigmund's ancestors the sword, bear,
and oak-tree hold prominent places, and there are
special sagas devoted to each of these favorite subjects.
Sigmund was transformed into a wolf, Biorn into a bear.
Many of the verses of Johnnie Armstrong's Death are
constructed upon a much older style, and remind us of
the poetry first introduced in the eleventh century from
Denmark into Germany. It is recorded in history that
the bookmen who performed the baptismal ceremony in
their periodical journeys through Liddesdale discour-
aged the continuance of the old heroic names and sub-
stituted instead similar ones of the saints. We find in
the early Chronicles of the Armstrongs such namds as
Wat (Waltheorf), Rolland, Lancelot, lone, Edmund,
Ekke, and later such names as Walter, Ninian, Patrick,
Hubert, Robert, John, Edward, Thomas, Martin.
Why the name Siward should have disappeared from
the Border is hard to tell, except for the reason that it
was ranked among those names that were heathen and
not countenanced later by the Christian Church. (See
William of Malmesbury.)

'XTRACT from a letter to Edwin E. Arm-
strong, Esq., from James L. Armstrong, Au-
gust 30, 1898.

The hero of the old Armstrong legends was certainly
called The Strong, both upon the Border and in Fer-
managh and by some of the first settlers of North Caro-
lina and Pennsylvania, and this was the name given to
Siward, earl of Northumberland, by the peasants of
Tynedale, the first home of the Armstrongs. Indeed,
according to old written tradition in my possession,
John of Gilnockie himself was called The Strang. The
region just south of Maingertoun in the early part of the
present century was rich in old stories, some of which
recounted the exploits of Siward. In one part of North-
umberland— if I remember rightly it is also in Tyne-
dale— there was a large split rock said to have been
broken apart by the sword of The Strong.

The crest of the Armstrongs, the "arm and hand
holding a sword," is quite old. It does not seem to be
the conventional one of English heraldry, but is made
up from the separate symbols of the sword and later
the arm found alone upon many of the old monu-
ments. For an example I refer you to my last letter, in
which is given the description of one of the oldest of
the Armstrong monuments, the one mentioned as hav-
ing been found in New Castle, Tynedale. Upon this
stone the hand and sword are apart and not upon a
shield.

The legend of the Three Arms is also interesting in
this connection. It is from a good source, but trans-
mitted orally. I do not think any of the Fermanagh

42 <C()roiucIeje( of tf^c %vmfitxmQ0

traditions have ever been printed. I was not even able
to find a printed history of that county.

The reading of the symbols employed by the Bor-
der Armstrongs in their heraldry, as explained to me,
may not be correct in every detail, but sufficient has
been imparted from many different families to war-
rant me in saying I have no doubt as to the theory,
that is, that they used expressive symbolism rather than
heraldic conventions, and the carvings pictured their
traditions, which in turn indicate the earliest history of
the Armstrong family. In the vicinity of Agahvea the
science was evidently as well understood as it was upon
the Border.

As to the story of the Fairy Bear, it is noticeable that
in olden times the term "fay" designated a woman of
the. human race, but of supernatural loveliness and en-
dowed with powers beyond those usually allotted to
mankind. It was used in this sense in Fermanagh and
in Liddesdale, and seldom to distinguish those little be-
ings of the popular creeds called Fairies, Bogles, and
Good Neighbors. The fay of the Bear stories com-
pares favorably with the former description.

As to the disappearance of the name Siward, from
my own studies into the histories of old English names
I am of the opinion that many of the Anglo-Saxon and
Anglo-Danish names were in the time of the Normans
of England discontinued, not changed, but the same
were generally followed in families by similar sounding
ones or at least by names of identical significance. Now
Siward was surely called Sibert in Liddesdale, and this
is simply the Norman contraction of Siward Beorn.

Cratittioni^ of ^itDarb anti bi^ ^on 43

Several of the oldest given names that we find in the
Maingertoun lineage were Norman, such as Rolland,
Geoffroy, or Robert. This last name, always promi-
nent in the Armstrong family, was undoubtedly borne
in honor of King Robert Bruce, but it may also have
graced the bearer with another intention, that of per-
petuating the memory of Sibert, because both names
had the same meaning. When the name Robert is
translated into Saxon it is found that Rob becomes Sieg
and Bert becomes Bera or Bear. Both words, Rob and
Sieg, signified "to conquer." In modern German this
ancient sense is still maintained, and "to conquer" is
translated at will either as Erobern or Siegen. It is
quite probable that this word, in accordance with an
old custom when feasible, was wrought into our earliest
known motto of Invictus maneo. Sigmund and Sigurd
(Norse), Siward (Saxon), Sibert (partly Norse and part
Norman), and Robert (Norman) were names of identi-
cal significance. The stories and cognomens of Beorn
and Siward are the same in meaning and significance
as those of Sigmund and Sigurd of Danish and Norse
mythology. Sigurd was called The Strong, Falling,
The Sword, The Noble Beast, and The Weapon Wiel-
der. These names correspond to Siward, to names of
The Strong, the Fairy Bear or Fay Bairn, to The
Sword upon the monuments of the Border, to the
family name of Beorn, and to the estate name of Main-
gertoun. The difl^erent versions of Beorn's Birth, Si-
ward's Fight with the Dragon, Siward's Cleaving the
Rock, and Siward's Sword were the tales of his kin,
just as the story of Fairbairn is the story of our kin.

and the origins of them, as far as we know, are found
in the Edda. They could hardly have related to
Siward's father alone, but to his forefathers. The old
man mentioned in the Monk of Jervaulx's account,
whom Siward met in the woods and "so parting with
him he [the old man] gave him [Siward] a standard
called Ravelandeys, which signifieth The Raven of
Earthly Terror," was probably the same as the Old
Man of the Volsunga Saga and none less than Odin,
who, when Sigurd had sailed from Gothland and was
passing the rocks of an ness, hailed him and asked who
the captain over that navy was. Upon Sigurd's reply
that it was he, Sigmund's son, Odin gave him for token
the following rede:

" When swords are sweeping
Fairfeilow deem I
The dark-winged raven
In war, to weapon-wielder."

Even the name Liddesdale or Ledesdale seems Eddaic,
for in the ballad of "Willie's Ladye" it is called The
Land of Ledes. This may have been in memory of
the Land of the Rings of the Volsungs. In the Grahm
ballad we read of the Forest of Thor or Tarras Moss,
the great place of refuge for the Liddesdale folk. It is
quite likely that Siward of Northumberland looked
back upon Sigurd and Sigmund as his ancestors and
with the same pride that Gilnockie did upon Siward.
It almost seems as though Siward and Gilnockie emu-
lated Sigurd. The "Semblance and Array of Sigurd
Fafnirs-bane " of the Story of the Volsungs resembles

CraDitiottjtf of ^itDarti ann i)ijtf ^on 45

the descriptions of Siward the Strong as presented to us
in the Brompton and other old English chronicles.

It seems to me that the Borderers of Liddesdale and
Tynedale in general used the more ancient and simple
method of numbering the generations, beginning with
some great personage or hero of the family. In Fer-
managh those who knew aught of the traditions counted
from Christie's Will, who was said to have been grand-
son or great-grandson of Gilnockie.

Upon the Border the generations were often repre-
sented by repeated marks, placques, or by branches of
trees carved with geometrical but not always symmetri-
cal precision. The upright bar or trunk stood for the
father, the horizontal bar for a son, the number of
marks or other signs corresponding to the number of
generations; in fact, in this part of heraldry, as in most
of their carvings, they used simple and expressive
symbolism.

Their burial monuments were usually surmounted
by a cross, into which was cunningly wrought by an
heraldic sign the number of the generation. The
spouse of a chief was generally represented by a cross
of varied and not always symmetrical form, but which
in style resembled the Norse or Potent cross. This
irregularity of figure, which undoubtedly had signifi-
cance, was caused by one or several cross-pieces upon
either the right or left arm, although other examples
were perfectly symmetrical. These crosses were simply
family trees. By the side of this cross would be carved
the Border emblem of woman, which was a pair of
shears. I have the interpretations of a number of these

46 C[)roMicICjtf of tfyt 3Crm|ftrDn0itf

signs, most of them procured from church sextons,
grave-diggers, or peasants, and some from more learned
sources. The Bear story as related by the Monk of
Jervaulx is only another and earlier version of the Fay
story that I have heard from descendants of the Bor-
derers in Fermanagh and which is alluded to in the last
five verses of Sir Walter Scott's version of Kempion,
where he gives the Danish version. We also find the
whole story in miniature contained in the Danish and
Swedish legend of Sir Tonne or Sir Thynne. A Dan-
ish academician, Baron von Kothen, and good authority,
informed me that he had often heard it. The ballad
of Sir Thynne, of which a good modernized translation
may be found in Keightley's Fairy Mythology, resem-
bles the Armstrong ballads strikingly in style and ex-
pression, but in it constant allusion is maintained to the
older superstitions and grander beast stories of Norway ;
to comprehend it one must read between the lines.

^ttoxr^fi of ^ttDarD'0 ^onis anD tl^ctr Ci^tlDrctt

IWARD'S son Osbcrn and his sister's
son Siward and some of his house-
carls and also of the king's were
slain in Scotland, on the day of the
Seven Sleepers. [Anglo-Saxon Chron-
icles y 10 j 4.) Osbern Beorn was son
of Siward and his first wife. Osbern's sister married
King Duncan. (Ridpath.) Brompton states that Si-
ward's son was called Osbern Bulax. He was also
called Asabeorn and Asbiorn.

Kingsley, quoting from old English chronicles, states
that Leofric, the great earl of Mercia, and his wife
Lady Godiva, the most beautiful as well as the most
saintly woman of her day, had a daughter whose name,
now lost, was probably married to the son of Leofric's
stanch friend, Siward, the Viking earl of Northumber-
land, and she was the mother of the two young Siwards,
The White and The Red, who figure in chronicle and
legend as the nephews of Hereward. Siward The
White, Osbern's son, was also called Siward Barn, White
Bear, and Fair Beorn, after his ancestor the Fairy Bear.
Siward Barn, The White, was son of Osbern, and
the Armstrongs of Maingertoun were descended from
him. (E. E. A., letter A, December 19, 1898.)

48 €f^vtmit\e0 of tfie %vm^txtms0

Simon of Durham tells of Bcorn Red, said to have
been brother of Sivvard Barn.

Siward The White and Sivvard The Red were orphans
of Siward's son Osbern, who fell at Dunsinane. (Kings-
ley.)

Earl Waltheorf (Forest Thief) was born to Siward
the earl in his old age. He is often mentioned in the
Domesday Book, where he is always called Waldev.

William the Norman, otherwise styled the Conqueror,
after the decisive battle of Hastings, and his establish-
ment upon the throne of Harold, king of England,
who fell in defense of his crown, sent his brother with
a powerful army to invade Scotland; but Malcolm HI,
and Suord (Barn) of Northumberland, with their
joint forces, gave them a complete overthrow, and got
possession of all their booty and stores. King William
soon concluded a treaty with Malcolm, wherein it was
agreed that a Stone Cross erected on Stanemoor, bear-
ing the arms of the two kingdoms, should form the
exact march betwixt England and Scotland. And
therefore Siward's descendants were made free of all
tribute to England by "William the Bastard" after the
Cross of Stane Muir was erected. [Buik of the Chron-
icles of Scotland. Border Exploits.)

"And this erie Suord in tyme to cum suld be
Of all tribute maid fre,

Fra Williame Bastard, of Ingland that wes king,
Quhilk grantit wes to him and his ofspring."

, Waltheorf aided with the most ardent zeal in
the rebuilding of Croyland Abbey, and on this

CraditionjEt of ^itoard atUx l^i0 Jtrni 49

occasion gave his vill of Bernakc to the church ; for he
was troubled with the remorse of an upright conscience,
because it had formerly been the property of the church,
and because, as there was an excellent quarry there, it
was consequently especially adapted to the necessities
of the monastery. (Ingulph, 1061.)

The said lands belonged to the church before the
coming of the Danes, but the title of the monastery
of Croyland was utterly undiscoverable. (Ingulph,
1076.)

The greatest wonder, perhaps, among all the wealth
of Crowland, was the twelve white bearskins which
lay before the altars, the gift of the great Canute.
(Kingsley.)

A A "William the Conqueror, on becoming king
of England in Harold's stead, laid a tribute on
the people, very heavy; and then went, during Lent,
over the sea to Normandy, and took with him Arch-
bishop Stigand, and Aylnoth, abbot of Glastonbury, and
(as hostages) Child Edgar, and Edwin the earl, and
Morkar the earl, and Waltheorf the earl, younger son
of Siward the Strong, and many other good men of
England. And then his people, the Normans, built
castles wide throughout the land, and poor people dis-
tressed; and ever after it greatly grew in evil. May
the end be good when God will." [Anglo-Saxon Chroni-
cleSy 1066.)

^ In the third year of King William, Wal-
■'* theorf obtained the earldom of Northumbria.
Soon after this three of the sons of Sweyne of Den-
mark came with 240 ships, together with earl Osbern

00 €f)roni(kjtf of tt^c ^rmjeftrongjo;

of Denmark and earl Thorkill into Humber; where
they were met by Child Edgar, **the rightful King of
England," [Anglo-Saxon Chronicles^ 1066,) and earl Wal-
theorf and Merle-Sweyne, and earl Cospatric, Siward's
near relative, with the men of Northumberland and all
the landsmen, riding and marching joyfully with an
immense army; and so they went to York, demolished
the castle, and found there large treasures. They also
slew many hundred Frenchmen, and carried off many
prisoners to their ships; but, before the shipman came
thither, the Frenchmen had burned the city, and plun-
dered and burnt St. Peter's munster. When King
William (the Conqueror) heard of this, he went north-
ward with all the troops he could collect and laid waste
all the shire; whilst the Heet lay all the winter in the
Humber, where the king could not get at them.
[Anglo-Saxon Chronicles.) At this battle Waltheorf
singly killed many of the Normans at the gate of the
City. (William of Malmesbury.)

Another account relates that the same year (1069-
1070) came King Sweyn from Denmark into the
Humber, and the people of those parts came to meet
him and made alliance with him, for they believed that
he would conquer the land. Then the Danish bishop
Christien and earl Osbern (earl Osbiorn, brother of
King Sweyn of Denmark, F. of W., 1069) and their
Danish retainers, came into Ely, and all the people of
the fens joined them, for they believed that they should
conquer the whole country; "because they had heard
that the king had given the abbacy to a French abbot
named Turold," "and that he was come into Stam-

€ratiitioniE( of «&itDarti attti {jijtf ^on 51

ford with all his French followers." So Hercward and
his friends pillaged the monastery of Peterborough and
took off to Denmark immense booty in gold and silver
ornaments. They gave no heed to the monks, "but
went into the monastery and climbed up to the holy
crucifix, took the crown from our Lord's head, which
was all of the purest gold, and the footstool of red gold
from under his feet. And they climbed up to the
steeple and brought down the table which was hidden
there; it was all of gold and silver. They also seized
two gilt shrines, and nine of silver, and they carried off
fifteen great crosses of gold and silver. And they took
so much gold and silver, and so much treasure in
money, robes, and books, that no man could compute
the amount; saying they did this because of their alle-
giance to the monastery; and afterwards they betook
themselves to their ships and went to Ely, where they
secured the treasures. The Danes believed that they
should overcome the Frenchmen, and they drove away
all the monks, leaving only one named Leofwin the
Long. Then the two kings, William and Sweyn,
made peace with each other, on which the Danes de-
parted from Ely, carrying with them all the aforesaid
treasure." [Anglo-Saxon ChronicleSy 1070.)

In this year Waltheorf made peace with the
107 o» .

' * king. [Anglo-Saxon Chronicles.)

But Siward Barn, son of Osbern, was dispossessed

of his lands in Lincolnshire, and finding that King

William intended to arrest him, secretly de-

' * parted from his court and took ship and

went to the Isle of Ely, where he joined Hereward.

52 €f^nnitM of tf)e %tmfttt(ms^

(Florence of Worcester. Roger De Hoveden. Kings-
ley.)

This. year earl Edwin and earl Morcar fled and wan-
dered through the woods and fields. Then earl Mor-
car took ship and went to Ely, and earl Edwin was
slain treacherously by his own men; and Bishop Egel-
wine (of Durham) and Siward Barn (Osbern's son),
and many hundreds with them, came into Ely. And
when King William heard this, he called out a fleet
and army; and he surrounded that land, and he made a
bridge and entered in, his fleet lying off" the coast.
Then all the outlaws surrendered, "and he disposed of
the men as he would." [A?iglo-Saxon Chronicles^ ^'^7^-)
Hereward with a few others escaped through the fens.
Ethelwine died in prison, and the rest were dispersed in
various parts of England. Some were set at liberty with
the loss of their hands or eyes. (Florence of Worces-
ter.)

Siward Barn fled to Scotland. (Roger De Hoveden.)
Simon of Durham relates that while Malcolm was
on an expedition he found, on board ships at the mouth
of the Were, Edgar Atheling; his mother, and sisters,
accompanied by Siward Barn, Marlswein, Elwin the son
of Ronnan, and several other Englishmen of great rank
and wealth, who having joined at York the Danes who
were now going to their own country, and dreading the
resentment of William, were on their way to Scotland
to ask refuge there. Malcolm, being acquainted with
their purpose, addressed them with great kindness and
assured them of a welcome and a safe residence in his
dominion. They accordingly proceeded on the voyage.

€ratiittonitf of ^itDarti anti f)i0 ^ott 53

and Malcolm on his return finding them arrived made
good all his engagements and took to wife Margaret the
sister of Edgar. It is not only probable but there is
considerable evidence that many of these people settled
(Boece) about Liddesdale, where the Hendersons of
Cockburn, the Elwalds of Schaw, and the Armstrongs
had lands, given to them by Malcolm after the battle
of Birnam Wood.

The Danes had boasted that they would keep their
Yule at York. William kept his Yule there instead,
while the English for miles around wandered starving
in the snow. He gave away the lands of Edwin and
Morcar to his liegemen; but not Waltheorf's, because
he loved Waltheorf and wanted to maintain his friend-
ship. (Kingsley.)

Waltheorf, an earl of high descent, had be-

' ^* come extremely intimate with the new king
(William the Conqueror), who had forgotten his former
offences, and attributed them rather to courage than to
disloyalty. For Waltheorf, singly, had killed many of
the Normans at the battle of York; cutting off their
heads, one by one, as they entered the gate. He was
muscular in the arms, brawny in the chest, tall and
robust in his whole person; the son of Siward, a most
celebrated earl, whom, by a Danish term, they called
"Digera the Strong." (William of Malmesbury.)

This year King William (the Conqueror)

' ^' gave the daughter of William Fitz-Osberne
in marriage to earl Ralph; the said Ralph was a
Welchman on his mother's side, and his father was an
Englishman named Ralph, and born in Norfolk. Then

54 €f^xomt\t0 of tfje SCmiiBftronj^

the king gave the earldom of Norfolk and Suffolk to
his son, who brought his wife to Norwich, but

" There was that bride-ale
The source of man's bale."

For earl Roger and earl Waltheorf were there, and
bishops and abbots, and they took counsel to depose the
king of England. And this was soon reported to the
king then in Normandy, and it was told him withal
that earl Roger and carl Ralph were the heads of the
conspiracy, and that they had brought over the Britons
(Welsh) to their side, and had sent eastward to Den-
mark for a fleet to assist them. And earl Roger de-
parted to his earldom in the west, and gathered his peo-
ple together in rebellion against the king, but he was
checked in his attempt. And earl Ralph also being in
his earldom would have marched forth with his people;
but the garrisons of the castles of England and the in-
habitants of the country came against him and prevented
his effecting anything, on which he took ship to Nor-
wich. "And after this the king came to England,
and he took his kinsman, earl Roger, and put him in
prison; and earl Waltheorf went over the sea and be-
trayed himself, but he asked forgiveness and offered a
ransom. The king let him off lightly until he came to
England, when he had him seized." "And the king
was at Westminster during Christmas, and there all the
Britons who had been at the bridal feast at Norwich
were brought to justice; some were blinded, and others
banished." [Anglo-Saxon Chronicles^ 1075.)

CratJttiottj^ of <&itDarti anti f)ti^ ^on 55

, Earl Waltheorf was beheaded at Winchester
' * on 31st May, 1076 (Hardy, in note to Wil-
liam of Malmesbury), on the mass-day of St. Petronilla
[Anglo-Saxon Chronicles)^ on the day before the Calends
of June. (Ingulph.)

"Waltheorf having been brought outside the city
of Winchester, by King William's orders, was cruel-
ly and undeservedly beheaded and thrown into a hole
on the spot; but in the course of time, by the provi-
dence of God, his body was exhumed and conveyed
with great honour to Croyland, where it was en-
tombed in the church with due ceremony. We firmly
believe that he is rejoicing with the saints in heaven.
For this we have the faithful testimony of archbishop
Lanfranc, of pious memory, who having received his
confession, and administered absolution and penance, de-
clared that he was guiltless of the crime laid to his
charge." (Florence of Worcester.)

After fifteen days Waltheorf's remains were raised by
the abbot Wulketul and with all due respect carried to
Croyland and honorably buried in the chapter-house of
that monastery, where the Lord, wondrous in His saint,
gave signs here to show his innocence.

Juditha, Waltheorf's widow, reclaims, by the king's
command, the vill of Bernake. She declines Simon
of Senlis, and the king being excessively enraged gave
the earldom of Huntingdon, with all the lands — for
Waltheorf had many estates throughout the land which
he inherited — to said Simon, on which she took flight
and remained unmarried to the end. Earl Simon,
however, took her eldest daughter Matilda, by whom

56 C{)ront(Iej( of tf)c ^rmisitrongjsr

he had offspring Simon, Waldev, and Matilda. Simon
built the monastery of Saint Andrew in Northampton.
(Ingulph.)

VValtheorf left no male descendant. Matilda, called
Maud, his daughter, after her first husband's decease
married David St. Maud, who thereupon became earl
of Huntingdon. He was the younger son of King
Malcolm and Margaret, brother of the Queen of Eng-
land, and afterwards King David of Scotland. Matilda's
descendants by her first and second husbands are re-
corded in the Chronicles of Croyland and Camden's
History of England,

Ingulph says VValtheorf was *' a person who had shewn
himself most kindly disposed towards all the religious,
and an especial and most excellent friend to the monas-
tery of Croyland; and, although the venerable Arch-
bishop Lan franc, his confessor, asserted that he was
utterly innocent of all participation in the rising and
conspiracy, and that if he died on that account he
would be a martyr, by reason of his innocence; still, as
his most impious wife desired to contract a new marriage
and therefore most wickedly hurried on his destruction,
while certain Normans were avariciously intent upon
his earldoms of Northampton and Huntingdon, and
especially the Anjouin earl Ivo Taillebois, who was most
anxious to possess his lands and tenements, which were
very numerous in all parts of England, and therefore
thirsted for his blood; though innocent and guiltless, he
was beheaded at Winchester, on the day before the Cal-
lends of June, and the body of the martyr was immedi-
ately buried there beneath the humble sod. However,

€ratiittonj( of «S»ttDart) anti I)ijtf ,S>on 57

after the lapse of fifteen days, by the king's permission,
the body of the [deceased] martyr was raised from the
tomb by the venerable abbot Wulketul, and was found
to be fresh and sprinkled with blood which seemed to
be just shed, as though he had been slain on that same
day ; upon which he was with all due respect carried to
Croyland and was honorably buried in the chapter-house
of that monastery. When the Lord, wondrous in His
Saints, through the might of His miracles and forever to
be praised, gave signs here to show the innocence of
His martyr, his relict, Juditha, hearing the mighty
works of Christ, came to the tomb of her husband, and
in our sight offered a pall of silk upon his tomb; upon
which, just as though it had been torn off by the hands
of some person, it flew to a distance from the tomb."

"At this time, also, the manor of Beorn Ake, which
he had [lately] presented to our monastery, was taken
from us, and by the king's command confiscated, in
order to be presented, together with the rest of his
lands lying near the Trent, as the marriage portion of
[Juditha] that most wicked Jezebel, his late wife. A
short time after this, when the renowned King William
was desirous to give his said niece in marriage to a cer-
tain Norman of noble birth, by name Simon of Senlis,
she declined his hand, because the said Simon halted in
one leg. The king, being excessively enraged at this,
gave the earldom of Huntingdon, with all the lands
pertaining thereto, to the said Simon ; on which, dread-
ing the wrath of the king, accompanied by her daugh-
ter she took to flight, and being utterly despised, and
held in extreme hatred by all through the just judgment

58 Cbrontrlejtf of tf)e %vm^tvon^ff

of God, concealed herself a long time in various spots
and hiding-places. At length, however, this wretched
woman confessed her wickedness and shewed extreme
penitence for the nefarious destruction of her husband,
and so remained unmarried to the end, being from that
time an object of suspicion to all, and deservedly de-
spised. Earl Simon, however, before-named, after much
deliberation, took her eldest daughter Matilda."

X Earl Walthcorf appears in a vision to In-

' ' gulph, the Chronicler of Croyland Abbey.

He was decorated with a golden tore around his neck.

Waltheorf's remains were transferred from the

' * chapter-house to the side of Saint Guthlac

under the arch of the monastery. Ingulph says: "But

behold! on opening the tomb we received an evident

proof of the glorification of the martyr, for we found

the body as whole and as uncorrupted as on the day on

which it was buried; we also found the head united to

the body, while a fine crimson line around the neck

was the only sign of his decollation."

"On seeing this I could not contain myself for joy,
and interrupting the response which the brethren were
singing, with a loud voice began the hymn, Te Deum
laudamus; on which the Chaunter, taking it up, en-
joined the rest to sing it. In the meantime, looking upon
the face of this most holy martyr, I easily recognized
the countenance of that most illustrious nobleman."

Wonderful deeds take place at the tomb of
I I I 2 •

Waltheorf. The blind see and the lame walk.

Waltheorf again appears in a vision at night to Ingulph

the Chronicler.

€ra!)itionjtf of ^itoarti antt ^ift ^on 5B

According to the Tcrwinncy Records, the shield of
the Armstrongs of Maingertoun — which was the arm
and hand holding a tree, with the mullet in the sinister
chief, and the crescent in the dexter base — distin-
guished the first lord of Maingertoun from Fayborn the
White Armstrong, that was Osbern's son, who did not
immediately dwell upon the then outlying estate, but
reserved those lands for later generations and himself
occupied a more settled estate in Tynedale just south
of Maingertoun, where ancient monuments of the family
may be found.

Cuieitomjsi of tl^e liODeieiDale ifolft.

•

HE Scottish Border prior to the
union of the Crowns was divided
into three districts called the East,
the Middle, and the West March.
The second of these comprised the
sheriffdoms of Selkirk, Peebles, and
Roxburgh, including within the bounds of the latter the
lordship of Liddesdale; the third, the dales of Esk,
Ewes, Wauchope, Annan, and Nith, and Galloway be-
neath and above the Cree. These districts were ruled
over by an officer appointed by the Crown, called a
warden, whose powers were very extensive. Liddesdale,
the valley in which the Chiefs of the Armstrongs lived,
was the most southern portion of Roxburghshire, and
drained by the rivers Liddal and Hermitage. New
Castleton is the town nearest the ruins of Maingertoun,
their castle.

The Armstrongs possessed at a very early period a
great part of Liddesdale, and of the Debateable Land.
Much of the country belonging to them was in dispute
as to nationality and was claimed territory by both
kingdoms; the consequence was they were protected by
neither nation for any great length of time and were a
sort of folk by themselves. The Anglo-Danish de-

€u0tmttfi of tt^t Sttitiej^ale f oUt 61

sccndants of this locality were different in character
from the Celtic clans. Liddesdale was sometimes called
"the Armstrong country."

They had little reason to regard the inland Scots as
their fellow subjects, or to respect the power of the
Crown, which they would willingly have done had they
been encouraged to do so. The King of Scotland fre-
quently resigned them, by express compact to England,
whence they came. James V. declared them a broken
clan, but they called themselves a tribe (Lesley). They
could not look upon James V. as their king, and termed
him in derision the King of Fife and Lothian, pro-
vinces which they were not legally entitled to inhabit.
The reverie of the Liddesdale freebooter who found
himself in Fife was not greatly overdrawn:

" War God that I were sound and haill.
Now lyftit into Liddesdail ;
The Mers sowld fynd me leif and caill,
What rack of breid?
The devill sowld styk me with a knyffe,
An ever I cum agane in Fyfe,
Till I wer deid."

And there was some truth in the medieval ballad of
Liddesdale which said:

"Yon Foreste was his awin;
He wan it frae the Southronie;
Sae as he wan it, sac will he keep it,
Contrair all kingis in Christentie."

Upon any turn of affairs which was favourable to the
arms of England they readily took assurance, as it is

62 <CI)ronicIcis? of tt)e ^Crm^trongisr

called, or allied themselves with that kingdom, and as-
sisted them with their forces in laying waste their own
native country. This was particularly the case with the
Borderers who inhabited the "Debateable Land," as it
was called, a considerable portion of ground upon the
west marshes, the allegiance of whose inhabitants was
claimed by both parties, and rendered to neither.
They were outlawed to both nations and readily made
incursions upon either, as circumstances afforded the
best prospect of plunder. The inhabitants of Lid-
desdale, comprehending the martial clans of Arm-
strong, Elliot, and others, were apt, on an emergency,
to assume the red cross and for the time become Eng-
lish subjects. They had indeed this to plead for their
conduct, that the sovereigns of Scotland had repeatedly
abandoned them to the vengeance of English retalia-
tion, on account of hostilities against that country,
which their own monarchs were unable to punish.
[Bonier Ayitiquities.)

The feudal system, which formed the principal
groundwork of ancient law, both civil and criminal,
had in the Border districts a comparatively imperfect
inHuence. The inhabitants were divided into surnames
and tribes or clans who acknowledged no supremacy
saving that of their chief, chieftain or head of their
name, who might often be a person entirely different
from their feudal superior.^

In their method of warfare it was the custom to
leave the frontiers at night-time in troops, going
through impassable places, and through many bye-
paths. In the day-time they refreshed their horses and

CujEStomjEi of ti)e HiUDc^ale f olft 63

recruited their own strength in hiding-places prepared
beforehand, until the approach of night, when they ad-
vanced to their place of destination. Having seized
their booty from the enemy they in the same manner
returned by night through circuitous by-ways to their
own habitations. With such secrecy could they pro-
ceed that they rarely allowed their prizes to be recov-
ered. (Bishop Lesley.) They would with perfect
safety, as a last resort in retreat, entice their pursuers
into some of the most intricate parts of the marshes,
first trying the defiles of the rugged mountains and
again the banks of the rivers. To all appearance these
marshes were green meadows and as solid as the ground,
but nevertheless underneath them were deep abysses of
mire. Not only did the Liddesdale folk themselves
pass over these gulches with wonderful agility and light-
ness of foot, but they even accustomed their horses to
cross many places with their knees bent, where footmen
could scarcely dare follow.

At appointed place and time, generally upon an
eighth, twentieth, or forty-eighth day, they had their
Day of Truce with the opposite nation. As soon as
the wardens of both realms agreed to the day of meet-
ing the arrangement was made known by proclamation
on either side of the Border to the inhabitants of the
adjoining Marches. Those persons who had received
injuries from subjects of the opposite nation were then
supposed either to cause their "bills to be lawfully ar-
rested" or else to present their bills of complaint to their
own warden, which were in turn forwarded by him to
the opposite warden, for the purpose of enabling that

64 Cfjroniclcjer of tfyt ^vm^ttimgn

officer to lawfully arrest before the meeting those per-
sons charged with offences and named in the bill. The
complaint or bill relating to the injury most recently
committed was the one first tried upon the day of truce.
When the business of the day was at an end the war-
dens of both realms declared what had been accom-
plished at the meeting, named another day and place of
truce, and parted with great ceremony.

The feud of the Borderer was a terrible affair; with
him blood could only expiate blood, and until vengeance
had been taken he believed that the spirit of his mur-
dered kinsman would never rest in peace. Thus the
minstrel tells that, before his execution, John of Gil-
nockie parted from his brothers Thomas and Christo-
pher and his little son Kirstie with these words:

" God be with the Christie my brother,
Lang live thou laird of Mangertoun !
Lang mayst thou live on the Border syde,
Ere thou see thy brother ride up and down ! "

These feuds, although not confined to the Border
country, were more common in that district than any
other portion of the kingdom, and were the cause of
endless trouble and bloodshed.

Later on, about 1560, we find Thomas Musgrave
noticing such feuds in the following terms: "Whatso-
ever they did, hardly deare any gentleman of the coun-
trey be of any jury of life and death if any of them be
indited, they are growen so to seeke blood; for they
will make a quarrell for the death of their grandfather,
and they will kill any of the name."

Cu^omj^ of tt^e UitiDe^tmle fxAh 65

But this was not always the case. The Armstrongs
and Elliots of Ewcsdalc were at feud in 1579, and it is
clear the quarrel was confined to the branches inhabit-
ing that district. In the same year the Armstrongs of
the Debateable Land were at feud with Turnbull of
Bedroul, but there is no reason for supposing that their
clansman of Liddesdale had adopted the quarrel. {His-
tory of Liddesdale.)

To their praise it may be said that having once
pledged their faith, even to an enemy, they were very
strict in observing it, insomuch that they thought noth-
ing could be more heinous than violated fidelity. If,
however, as rarely happened, any one was found guilty
of this crime among them, it was usual for him who
had received the injury, or one of his name, to suspend
the culprit's crested glove upon the point of an elevated *
spear, and ride about with it, exhibiting it in reproach
of his violation of faith. This was done at their solemn
conventions, as, for example, at those while the wardens
of the marches of both kingdoms were sitting to make
amends for injuries, according to custom. They thought
there could not be a more degrading mark of disgrace
than this, and esteemed it a greater punishment than
even death. (Bishop Lesley.)

This reproach was keenly felt by the kinsmen of the
accused, who when convinced of his guilt were accus-
tomed to deprive the offender of their friendship
and to outcast him. It was probably for this offense
that Hector of Harelaw, who betrayed the Duke of
Northumberland in 1 569, was called " Hector with the
Griefs and Cuts."

66 <rt)ronicIejBr of tfyt %vmftttim^ft

When a Borderer made a prisoner he esteemed it
wholly unnecessary to lead him into actual captivity or
confinement. He simply accepted his word to be a
true prisoner, and named a time and place where he
expected him to come to treat about his ransom. If
they were able to agree, a time was usually assigned for
the payment or security to be given; if not, the prisoner
surrendered himself to the discretion of his captor.
(Berner's Froissart.)

The system of levying protection money or "black
rents," sometimes called "blackmail," upon the inhabi-
tants of both countries was extensively practised on the
Scottish Border, and the chief receiving this kind of
tribute was not only bound to desist from plundering
the lands of the person from whom he received the
rent, but to protect him at all times from the incursions
of the other Borderers of both kingdoms and to see
that property stolen from him was returned forthwith.

And when he came to the fair tower yate
He shouted loud, and cried weel hie —
" It 's I, Jamie Telfer of the fair Dodhead,
A harried man I think I be !
The captain of Bewcastle has driven my gear;
For God's sake rise, and succour me ! "
"Alas for wae! " quoth Williams Wat,
"Alack for thee my heart is sair!
I never cam by the fair Dodhead,
That ever I fand thy basket bare."

("Ballad of Jamie Telfer.")

When warned at night of an English raid they would
signal each other with burning fagots from the battle-

Cuj^m^ of tt^t XiDdejtftmIe folk 67

mcnts of their towers, which were so placed as to be in
view of other dwellings of a similar class. One light
was a warning of the approach of the enemy in any
manner; two meant they were "coming indeed"; four
bales, blazing beside each other, that the enemy were
in great force. In this way they could signal through-
out the Borders. If the blaze of their beacon fires gave
notice of the approach of an English army, thousands
would assemble in a single night, the knights and es-
quires being mounted on able steeds, the rest on their
hardy nags. Even in broad daylight, when such signals
could not be used with the same effect, it was possible
to collect large numbers of fully armed horsemen in an
incredible space of time.

"Ye need not send to Liddes-dale;
For when they see the blazing bale,
Elliots and Armstrongs never fail."

Besides the blazing bales the Borderers also sent
around a signal called the fyre-cross, somewhat similar
to the Highland fiery-cross. This fyre-cross was a wisp
of straw, or tow, or turf, blazing or glowing, attached
to the neck of a spear and carried through the country
from tower to tower with utmost speed, first by one and
then by others, in relays. In this manner they were
able to spread the alarm even on foot at the rate of ten
miles an hour, and all men between eighteen and fifty-
six were obliged to hasten to the place of danger.
This method of assembling was called "the hot-trod."
(B. Homer Dixon.)

88 Cf^nnitUft of tf)c %tm0tvnnsft

They were accustomed to use certain "slogans," or
gathering cries, usually the names of their chiefs or
leaders, or of the district they inhabited.

They were passionately fond of the chase. Gilnockic
states in the ballad —

" I 've luved naething in my life,
I wee! dare say it, but honesty —
Save a fat horse, and a fair woman,
Twa bonny dogs to kill a deir."

The flying of the hawk, the pursuit of the red deer,
and earlier the wolf, (Borderers' Table Book^) which at
one time roamed over the whole of the Border district,
was their favorite sport. Liddesdale was formerly well
wooded, and wolves were a pest upon the Border as late
as the fourteenth century. There are now no trees in
Liddesdale except on the banks of the rivers, they hav-
ing died of grief, so it is said, whenas

"John murdered was at Carlinrigg,
And all his gallant companie."

But the stumps and fallen timber which are everywhere
found in the morasses attest how well the country was
wooded in former days. The game of football was also
much indulged in, and sometimes at the gatherings held
for such purposes many of their most daring exploits
were planned; such, for example, as the murder of Sir
John Carmichael, the Warden of the West March, in
1603. They were all horsemen, and held pedestrians
in contempt.

€vi^tom0 of t()e UitiDej^ale folh 60

It was early discovered that the English surpassed
their neighbors in the arts of assaulting or defending
fortified places. The policy of the Scottish, therefore,
deterred them from erecting upon the Borders buildings
of such extent and strength as, being once taken by the
foe, would have been capable of receiving a permanent
garrison. To themselves, the woods and hills of their
country were pointed out by the great Bruce as the
safest bulwarks; and the maxim of the Douglasses that
"it was better to hear the lark sing than the mouse
creep" was adopted by every Border chief For these
combined reasons the residence of the chieftain was
commonly a large square battlemented tower, placed on
a precipice, or on the banks of a torrent, and, if the
ground would permit, surrounded by a moat. In short,
the situation of a Border house, surrounded by woods,
and rendered almost inaccessible by torrents, by rocks,
or by morasses, sufficiently indicated the pursuits and
apprehensions of its inhabitants. {^Border Minstrelsy.)

Some of these towers, or peels, were surrounded by
barnikins, or inclosures of stone, the walls whereof
were, according to a statute of A. D. 1535, a yard thick
and six yards in height, surrounded by a court of at
least sixty feet. This was the minimum, but they were
often larger and stronger. Such a residence would be
inhabited by the lairds and gentry, but men of smaller
means built "great strengths," or strong houses, many
of which endured in Liddesdale to the beginning of the
present century. [Border Clans.)

The entrance of these towers was secured by two
doors — the outer of oak clenched with broad-headed

70 €t^vonitU^ of tl)c SCrm^trongjf

nails, and the innermost of grated iron. The apart-
ments, the first of which was vaulted, were placed
directly over each other, accessible by a turnpike stair
and easily defended. These keeps were of considerable
thickness, and capable of withstanding the effects of fire;
they were surmounted by projecting battlements, from
which the defenders could annoy the besiegers when it
was their policy to resist attack. (History of Liddesdale.^
The dependents generally lived in adjacent cottages built
with walls of stone. When the alarm was sounded they
unthatched and dismantled their cabins, so that there
was not much to burn, and huddled the women and
children, the horses, cattle, and sheep, within the castle
walls.

In the early part of this century there might still be
seen all along the river Liddal the ruins of towers and
fortalices possessed by the warlike family of Armstrongs.
They did not, however, entirely trust to these fastnesses,
but, as before mentioned, when attacked by a superior
foe abandoned entirely their dwellings and retired into
morasses accessible by paths known to themselves alone.
One of their most noted places of refuge was the Tarras
Moss, at that time a desolate and horrible marsh,
through which a small river takes its course. The
stream runs furiously among huge rocks, which has
occasioned a popular saying —

" Was ne'er ane drown'd in Tarras, nor yet in doubt.
For ere the head can win down, the harns* are out."

*Harns=:braini.

Cu^tom^ of tt)e %it>bt0t>a\t folk 71

The morass itself was so deep that, according to an old
historian, two spears tied together would not reach the
bottom. (Border Minstrelsy.)

It is generally supposed that the Borderers were not
an industrious people, but this is an erroneous impres-
sion. The Armstrongs of Liddesdale and Eskdale,
when not occupied in predatory warfare, had their
cattle and mills to attend, and granaries, which con-
tained "their gude red wheit" often received in ex-
change for live-stock. The herds which had to be
guarded both night and day on "lammas land and
holm" were a source of great anxiety, and their care
was no easy task, requiring as it did the attention of
men endowed with superior physical endurance and
alertness. Great herds had to be driven either to Edin-
burgh or Carlisle, or to other smaller towns, both in
spring and fall, for this was really their greatest source
of revenue. Cattle from the Southron-land were sold
in the North, rather to avoid annoying claims of pre-
vious ownership than as a preference for the market,
because they had had certain treaty rights to enter Car-
lisle from an early period. Besides this, there were the
"milk-white steids" to rear "that pranced and nichered
at a speir." The hunting, too, and arts of warfare may
have been a more welcome but nevertheless necessary
occupation.

They lived mainly on flesh, milk, boiled barley, fish,
and game. Their use of bread was very limited as well
as of beer and wine, in neither of which they took
much delight even when they obtained them. (Lesley.)

That the revenue of the chieftain should be expended

72 €f^vm\it\€0 of tJ)c Strm^tftrongitf

in true hospitality was the natural result of his situation.
His wealth consisted chiefly in herds of cattle, which
were consumed by his kinsmen, vassals, and followers,
who aided him to acquire and protect them. [Border
Antiquities. )

"It was then the use of Pudding-burn house,
And the house of Mangerton, all hail,
Them that cam na at the first ca'.
Gat nae mair meat till the neist meal.
The lads, that hungry and weary wer,
Ahune the door-head they threw the key."

Upon an expedition from the Debateable Land into
England or Scotland, for they fought at times with both
countries, each man carried a little bag of oatmeal
trussed behind him and a griddle for baking his crack-
nel attached to the crupper of his saddle, and they fre-
quently rode in a single night or day for twenty-four
miles together without bread or wine. The rivers
served for drink and the cattle taken afforded meat, and
instead of burdening themselves with pots they seethed
their meats in the raw skins of animals, pouring water
into the bags so formed and suspending them upon
stakes over the fire, or roasted their beef on spit-racks
before the fire. (B. Homer Dixon.)

There was probably little difference between the dress
of the Border chief and that of his kinsmen. They all
wore leather coats called "jaks," to which steel plates
were attached, "steilbonnetts," and "splents," and be-
sides these they carried "buklair and sweirds, speirs of
VI ellis lang, Jedburghstavis, hagbuttis, and daggis."

CuiBttomjBf of tf)t Uiatit^JiaU folk 73

They also in time of war wore crosses either of St.
Andrew or St. George to denote their nationality, and
handkerchiefs rolled about their arms, or letters and
monograms embroidered upon their caps or gloves, by
which marks of distinction they were recognized by
their friends. [History of Liddesdale.)

We are told that Archibald, tenth lord of Mainger-
toun, when deprived of his lands of Grena and Holme,
in 1610, resisted with twenty-four persons all arrayed in
the pomp of war, with swords, gauntlets, plait-sleeves,
and other weapons, and with jacks, "lauds," hagabuts,
and pistolets.

In an old copy of the ballad of "John Armstrong's
Last Good Night" is the following description of the
dress of the Armstrongs in time of peace.

" But see we must go before the King,
Lord, we will go most gallantly;
Ye shall every one have a Velvet Coat,
Laid down with golden Laces three.

" And every one shall have a scarlet Cloak,
Laid down with silver Laces five.
With your golden Belts about your necks,
With Hats and Feathers all alike."

(See "A Collection of Old Ballads," printed in 1723.)

Bishop Leslie wrote of them, "But if they arc taken,
their eloquence is so powerful, and the sweetness of
their language so winning, that they even can move
both judges and accusers, however severe before, if not
to mercy, at least to admiration and compassion."

74 Cfjronifleitf of t^e SCntijaftrongi^

They took great pleasure in their own music and
poetry, which they composed upon the exploits of their
ancestors or upon their own stratagems in war and their
artful defences. We know that some of their best
rhythmical songs have been lost, but many have been
preserved. "The music of the most accomplished
singer," says Goldsmith in his Essays, "is dissonance to
what I felt when an old dairy-maid sang me into tears
with Johnie Armstrang's Last Good Night." Even
their enemies, the Cumberland and Westmoreland folk,
sang these songs. In our grandfather's day the people
of Liddesdale in the long winter nights used to recite
and sing and listen to the traditions of their ancestors
recorded in song which had been handed down from
fiUher to son for many generations; although, no doubt,
had a copy been taken at the end of every century there
would have been discovered some changes, for they
often ran two stories into one or filled out the praise of
one song with the verse of another. In addition to this
the gradual change of the language should be con-
sidered. Thus many beautiful and ancient verses were
gradually modernized, not by the most cultured class,
but by the peasant. We cannot therefore expect to
find these ballads inspired with all their original grace
and spirit. Nevertheless the rude and rugged Border
verse is still full of sympathy and has a wonderful charm
for those who delight in the expressions of simple-
hearted human nature. They transport us back to the
days of "The Suord" and "The Bruce," "Perse' owt
of Northhombarlande," of "Doughti Doglas," and
" Crabit Jhon the Reif," and " Mangerton," who " weet-

Cuiftomjtf of tfjc !litilici6fl»alc folk 75

less at the festal board the bulls broad frontlet met,"
and "Young Tamlane," "lonne Armcstrang," "Will
o' Kinmont," "Jock o' the Side," "Archie o' Ca'field,"
and all the rest, for they were well known in Liddes-
dale. The poets of our noble civilization cannot pro-
duce companion pieces to these. Comparison with
modern methods employed in the same kind of poetry
only serves to enhance the charms of the older verse,
and to the connoisseur these present genuine antiquity.

Sir Bulwer Lytton states that the historians of our
literature have not done justice to the great influence
which the poetry of the Danes has had upon our early
national muse. There is little doubt but that to that
source may be traced the minstrelsy of our borders.
The example and exertions of Canute must have had
considerable effect on the taste and spirit of the Border
minstrel. That great prince afforded the amplest en-
couragement to Scandinavian poetry, and Olaus names
eight Danish poets who flourished at his court.

The language of the Liddesdale folk contained much
of the old and genuine Saxon, with an intermixture
from the Northern nation, as Danish and Norse, and
some, though a small portion, from the Celtic.

Some rude monuments, memorials of ancient valor,
occur upon the Borders. Such is the cross at Miln-
holm, on the banks of the Liddal, erected in memory
of a chief of the Armstrongs, Alexander the second
lord of Maingertoun, murdered treacherously by lord
Soulis while feasting in Hermitage Castle. (Dr. J.
Leyden.) It was the custom of the ancient Border
families of Anglo-Danish descent to commemorate by

70 €I)ronicIeje( of tf)e ^Crmieitrongitf

sculptured devices the greatest deeds of valor of their
ancestors. By these devices certain Liddesdale families
were known, and from them they were named. Some
were said to have been granted as ensigns armorial;
they were also employed as expressive symbolism in
heraldic ornamentation in architecture, for they revered
the traditions and relics of their forefathers and in this
manner they perpetuated the records of their deeds.
Among the most important of these devices are the
VVhithaugh shield, the Mangerton shield, the Milnholm
Cross, the monuments in Ettleton, the Gillside stone,
the stone built into Gilnockie Bridge, the door-stone
of Gilnockie Castle, and others mentioned later in this
work.

Here are a few interpretations of the most important
symbols used by the ancient Borderers of Liddesdale
and the surrounding country.

The square stood for a shield, but sometimes repre-
sented a casket.

The triangle stood for the chief

The paly stood for father or forefather.

The bar stood for son.

Red meant blood.

Black meant sorrow.

The chevron stood for the estate.

The sun meant day, and was drawn like a wheel.

The double quatrefoil was employed as an heraldic
distinction and was also similar to a wheel.

The stirrup stood for chevalier or knight.

The sword upon the Armstrong monuments stood for
Siward, anciently called Suord.

CujEftomitf of tfje ltil»l>cin»ale folk 77

The oak-tree and arm referred to Siward's achieve-
ment at Birnam Wood.

The sword and bear stood for Suord Beorn.

The oak-tree, acorn, oak-branch, oak-leaf, also stood
for Birnam Wood.

The arm stood for the name Armstrong.

The sheep-shears meant woman.

St. Andrew's cross stood for Scotland, but it was borne
on the Middle and West Marches by the descendants
of the followers of Bruce.

The heart represented Bruce's heart, and was borne
upon the shields of the descendants of those who fought
the Moors in Spain with the Good Sir James Douglas
in his effort to carry that heart to Jerusalem; the heart
in a casket had a similar meaning.

The closed hand with two fingers pointing upward
meant mercy.

The elk-head and antlers stood for the names Elkford
or Alford, and Elwald, Elkyard, or Elliot; the latter
name originally meant Elk of the Forest.

The hunting-horn stood for the Hunters and For-
esters.

The foregoing signs are often only recognizable to
the practised eye. For example, in Liddesdale the arm
and hand holding a tree must not be taken for the hand
holding the palm-leaf, which we are informed "shows
pilgrim from the Holy Land"; nor should the carved
tree be taken for a chalice or goblet, which it often
resembles.

4if^nnitltff of t^t %tm^ms0

The above illustration represents a carved stone which
forms the lintel of a fire-place in an old stone cottage
at Gillside near Jock o* the Side's ruins. It is said to
have been taken from the ruins of Whithaugh.

The Gillside stone was found built into the chimney
over the fire-place amid the ruins of an old stone cot-
tage upon that ground now called Gillside; but in olden
times this was called Nethir Foulwood and was just
above Farnihoom (Ferny holm). It was covered with a
thick layer of greasy caked soot, and the characters un-
derneath were quite hidden. I scraped off this cover-
ing with a knife and brush. The slab, which seemed
to be of slate, was about six feet long, eighteen inches
high, and six inches thick, but as I had no rule this is
approximate. The carving was undoubtedly done cen-
turies ago. The reason why it was so well preserved is
because it consisted almost wholly of straight lines and
had been kept under cover of roof and soot. Different
parts of the work had been executed in different cen-
turies. The proportionate periods lapsing between the
different executions of the work were plainly percepti-
ble. From the first to the last figure it must have cov-

Citjtftom^ of t^e SUitiejAiale f olh 79

crcd the years of many generations. The first figure
was quite corroded and pitted with age; its straight
lines could be easily traced, but only the faintest impres-
sion could be produced from the two symbols contained
upon its sinister chief point. The second figure was
more distinct, and the third easily discernible. The
fourth, fifth, and sixth were unmistakable done by one
person and at one period. The third figure was not
quite finished, and so some later member carved upon it
the message to "Fulfill" the slab. From the spacing
and after-work of the fourth, fifth, and sixth figures it
is quite evident that this recorder began at the end and
worked backward, when, not having space enough, he
resorted in the central figure to a peculiar method of
condensing the records, showing that these later records
had been neglected for generations and then recorded at
once. Thus we understand why before these figures we
find the admonition "Fulfill." The fifth figure evi-
dently represents the four brother chiefs, founders of the
four branches mentioned in the Elizabethan report of
1563 as follows, "In Liddesdale are four branches";
therefore the sixth figure with its two bars could only
represent Symon and David the Lady, also mentioned
in this report as maintaining the line of Whithaugh.
The next significant device we come to as we work
backward is a tree and the large monogram composed of
the letters TA with four rays descending from it. This
of course is the fifth lord of Maingertoun, Thomas
Armstrong, mentioned November 2d, 1482, father of
the four chiefs; they were Alexander of Maingertoun,
John the First of Whithaugh, 111 Will of the Chingils,

80 €'^vxmicU0 of tf)e %tm^tttmQff

(Chicn-gills, later called Gingles, or the house of Ral-
ton), and George of Ailmure, mentioned in an old
report of the sixteenth century, also mentioned in the
1563 and 1590 report as being represented by his son,
Hector of Harelaw with the Griefs and Cuts. This
monogram TA hangs in company with two other
shields from a bar, the first of which has the letters
AA in chief, here meaning Archibald Armstrong, the
second standing for David of Ewesdale. The bar rep-
resents the preceding or fourth lord of Maingertoun.
The foregoing chiefs and chieftain are often mentioned
in the latter half of the fifteenth century. Going back
to the beginning of the slab we find the first figure very
simple ; it of course stands for the first lord of Mainger-
toun. The second, with its two tinctured bars, one of
gules and the other sable, stands for the "young lord of
Maingertoun, cruelly killed by Soulis," and his younger
brother. The third shield has crossing its field two
bars, one of gules and upon the other four stirrups.
These stand for two brothers. The stirrup here desig-
nates a knight, (see Mangerton Lineage,) and is a sign
of some achievement found also upon other Armstrong
monuments, notably upon the ancient specimen forming
part (the "door-stane") of the foundation of Gilnockie
Castle, where it helps to make up the monogram A
and M. (See History of Liddesdale, p. 171.) There
are several other signs contained within the figures.
My interpretations of them are based upon comparisons
with other monuments upon the Border and the tradi-
tions, as follows:

The large figures whose outlines form squares are

€ui^tomjer of tf^t fiihlitfSbalt f olft 81

shields. Upon the Border heraldic shields were often
carved in this manner. There were important examples
of Armstrong shields of this form in Canonbie and An-
nan church-yards.

The canton which we find upon these shields evi-
dently had one meaning in chief and another in base;
it was further numerically differentiated by cross lines
and Roman numerals.

The bar or hatchment signifies the first degree of de-
scent, and is further distinguished by two tinctures, one
of gules and the other seemed to be sable. These bars
are the same bars that we find upon many of the patri-
archal crosses in Liddesdale and Tynedale. It is notice-
able that the first shield has no hatchment, but is party
per bend and in the sinister base a canton.

The vertical bar, or paly, stands for the father from
whom they descend; therefore the bar of one shield
may become the paly of the next.

The triangle, or diadem, over the shield takes the
place of the helmet, and denotes the rank or order to
which those distinguished upon the shield belonged.
These emblems were graded, — the greater the chief,
the larger the triangle.

The stirrup, which is not in the field but upon the
second bar of the third shield, denotes an achievement
of the second grandson of the first lord of Mainger-
toun. {^Qc Lineage of the Lords of Mangerton. Froissart's
Chronicles. )

The tree which is in the upper opening of the letter
A is the emblem of the family and denotes the achieve-
ment of the traditional ancestor; it was also used as a
6

82 Ct)ronicIejtf of tf^t ^Crmjtftrongitf

device to picture this part of the lineage, the four roots
representing the four brothers, the trunk the line in the
oldest brother, and the seven branches his seven sons,
who do not belong upon the Gillside stone, they being
members of the later Maingertoun and not of the Whit-
haugh branch in which this lineage terminates.

The lost hieroglyphics upon the first shield were
probably the arm and the sword, depicted by carvings
which in their corroded state appeared to be the re-
mains of the letter V and a long cross. These of course
originally stood for Suord the Strong, more generally
called Siward the Strong, and were therefore used by
the first lord of Maingertoun.

As to their religion, the learning which existed in
the middle ages glimmered a dim and dying flame in
the lonely chapel upon Kirkhill side; and even in the
sixteenth century, when its beams became more widely
diffused, they were far from penetrating the recesses of
the Border mountains.

In the dales of Esk, Ewes, and Liddal there were no
churchmen for the ordinary celebration of the rites of
the Church. A monk from Melrose, called, from the
porteous breviary which he wore upon his bosom, the
Book-man, visited the secluded regions once a year and
solemnized marriages and baptisms. [Border Antiquities.')

It is not surprising that the dalesmen inhabiting the
wild and unsettled Border districts attended but little to
their religious duties. In fact, the efforts of the Church
to restrain their excesses had so slight an effect that,
three years after their excommunication, one of the

Cuj^tom^ of tf)e StDDei^ale jfollt 83

principal chieftains, Simon Armstrong, laird of Whit-
haugh, called "Sym the larde," boasted to the English
warden that he and his adherents had been instrumental
in the destruction of no less than thirty parish churches.
( History of Liddesdale. )

Later, Bishop Lesley wrote, "Nor indeed have the
Borderers, with such frenzy as many others of the
country, joined the heretical secession from the com^
mon faith of the holy church." It appears that the
Armstrongs of the Border were of the Roman Catholic
faith until about 1600. It is said that non-conforming
Presbyterian preachers were the first who brought this
wavering generation to a sense of the benefits of re-
ligion. [Border Antiquities.^

Their morality was of a singular kind. The rapine
by which they subsisted they accounted lawful and
honorable. Ever liable to lose their whole substance
by an incursion of the English on a sudden breach of
truce, they cared little to waste time in cultivating
crops to be reaped by foes. The cattle were therefore
their chief property, and these were nightly exposed
to the southern Borderers, as rapacious and active as
themselves. Hence robbery assumed the appearance
of fair reprisal. The fatal privilege of pursuing
the marauders into their own country, for recovery of
stolen goods, led to continual skirmishes. The war-
den also, himself frequently the chieftain of a Border
horde, when redress was not instantly granted by the
opposite officer for depredations sustained by his district,
was entitled to retaliate upon England by a warden
raid. In such cases the Borderers who crowded to his

8^ Cf)roniciejB( of tf)e ^Crm^trongiet

standard found themselves pursuing their craft under
legal authority, and became the favorites and followers
of the military magistrate whose duty it was to have
checked and suppressed them. [Minstrelsy of the Border.)

Bishop Lesley states that "the Borderers, in whom,
though some things are to be noticed to their dispraise,
yet there are others to be greatly admired ; for most of
them, when determined upon seeking their supply from
the plunder of the neighbouring districts, use the great-
est possible precaution not to shed the blood of those
that oppose them; for they have a persuasion that all
property is common by the law of nature, and is there-
fore liable to be appropriated by them in their necessity,
but that murder and other injuries are prohibited by
the Divine law. If, however, they do commit any
voluntary slaughter, it is generally in revenge of some
injury, but more frequently of the death of some of
their own relations, even though it be in consequence
of the laws of the kingdom. Then arises a deadly
hatred not of one against one, or a few against a few,
but of them all, how numerous soever the tribe may be,
against all of the opposite name, however innocent or
ignorant of the alleged injury, which plague of deadly
feud, though a general calamnity through the kingdom,
is chiefly proper to these people.

'•Besides they think the art of plundering [their
enemies] so very lawful, that they never say over their
prayers more frequently, or have more devout recur-
rence to the beads of their rosaries, than when they
have an expedition, as they frequently do, of forty or
fifty miles, for the sake of booty."

Cujertomjtf of tf^t SitJtiejertiale folft 65

A custom, although not peculiar to the Border, may
here be noticed. At the junction of the White and
and Black Esk there is a place still called ** Handfasting
Haugh," where in former days a fair was held, to
which the young people of both sexes resorted in great
numbers, between whom engagements were then made
by joining hands, or "hand-fasting." The connection
so formed was binding for one year only, at the expira-
tion of which time either party was at liberty to with-
draw from the engagement, or in the event of both
being satisfied, the "hand-fasting" was renewed for life.
They usually married very early. The custom is men-
tioned by several authors, and was by no means confined
to the lower classes, John Lord Maxwell and a sister
of the Earl of Angus being thus contracted in January,
1572. [History of Liddesdale.)

Z})t i^oujsc Of iHatngettoun.

HE fortresses along the Border were
repaired in 1 244 by King Alexan-
der II of Scotland, who also built
in Liddesdale the castle of Hermit-
age. The fortalice of Maingertoun,
for so it was called in official docu-
ments (see 1 55 1 ), was probably rebuilt at this time. The
older name of the land upon which it stood was Merie-
ton. Boece called it Myreton, and mentions it as one of
the awards of Malcolm III granted to his faithful subjects
who had come forward to establish him on the throne.
Of the castle of Maingertoun, so often mentioned in
these Chronicles, there exists to-day only the lower part
of the tower and fortalice, some twelve feet high, and
long mounds covering the foundations of the outer
walls. It was upon the southern bank of the Liddal,
near New Castleton, and was the home of the Arm-
strongs for centuries. Family tradition relates that
Maingertoun was employed as a place of strength by
King Robert Bruce, whom the Armstrongs followed;
and indeed the shield of the last lord of Maingertoun
(see 1603-12) was charged with bearings won during
this episode. During the greater part of the thirteenth
century the Soulis, a powerful family of royal descent,

• 86

Ct)e ^nvmt of fil^aingrrtoun 67

and enemies of the Armstrongs, were lords of Liddes-
dale. In 1320 William lord Soulis forfeited his lands
in Liddesdale to the King. In a deed of resignation,
November 2d, 1482, to the Earl of Angus, friend of
Thomas Armstrang, in favor of David Scott of Branx-
helme, Maingertoun is there stated to have belonged to
Thomas "heritably."

The family is named as being in possession not only
of Maingertoun but other lands in 1376. After 1482
they regained their old home, although they had never
left it. It is again stated, in the Tax List of 1541, that
Meriantoun descended to them by inheritance. In 1569
the regent Murray, spending a Sunday night at Main-
gertoun, ordered the castle in the morning to be de-
stroyed by gunpowder. But it withstood the shock and
must soon have been repaired, for in its northerly wall
is a remarkable ^stone upon which is carved a shield
bearing the charges of Merieton and the emblem of
Siward. Outside of the shield are carved the numerals
1583 with the letters S A and EF (see 1583), stand-
ing it is said for Symon Armstrong and Elizabeth Fos-
ter. The Armstrongs were in possission until 1610,
when Archibald, the tenth lord of Maingertoun, was
denounced rebel to Scotland and executed at Edinburgh ;
Archibald, called the Young Lord, having been pro-
claimed outlaw in 1603.

Near Maingertoun ruins, on the beautiful rivulet of
Tweeden, which falls into the Liddal below New Cas-
tleton, is an exceedingly powerful petrifying well. Near
it was formerly a cave where the Armstrongs used to
hide the plunder taken from the enemy. On the coni-

88 €f^ttnit\t0 of tfyt %tm^ttimg0

cal summit of Carbyhill, just back of Maingertoun, is a
Roman encampment of stones, loo yards in diameter,
and on the opposite side of the river, on the summit of
Kirkhill, is another of earth and stones, nearly of a
square form, 300 feet in diameter. This peaceful
valley was anciently the turbulent gateway of great
midland invasions entering from the South into Scotia.
It is not only possible but probable enough that the de-
scendants of Siward the Strong were stationed there to
assist in guarding that entrance.

" Scotlands heart was ne'er sae wae,
To see sae mony brave men die —
Because they saved their country deir
Frae Englishmen ! Nane were sa bauld."

(" Ballad of Johnie Armstrang.")

Cospatric and Waltheorf were successively lords of
the valley of Esk. Cospatrick was descended in the
same line as Siward's wife, Waltheorf's mother. We
are informed in the Barjarg MS. of Dumfriesshire that
the Siwards held high offices upon the Border. Rid-
path relates that the Hermistanns of Liddesdale were an
important family during the twelfth century, and this
was the Norman pronunciation of Airmistrayng, one of
the earliest forms of the name. (See August 19, 1388.)
Q But even at this period it is to be feared that
they had already begun to make trouble. We
find that John Armstrong was killed by James de Mul-
ton, for whom Alexander III solicits a pardon from his
brother-in-law, Edward I, King of England. (Hist.
Families of Dumfriesshire. )

Zt^t l^ou^e of 0^aitt0trtoun 89

The savage and bloody spirit of hostility which arose

from Edward the First's usurpation of the crown of

Scotland, destroyed in a few years the im-

*^ * provements of ages and carried the natives
of these dales backward in every art but in those
which concerned the destruction of the English and
each other.

In the civil wars between Bruce and Baliol many
powerful chiefs espoused the cause of the unsuccessful
party. The Borders from sea to sea were then at the
devotion of a succession of mighty feudal chiefs whose
exorbitant power threatened to place a new dynasty
upon the Scottish throne. Those chiefs who espoused
the unsuccessful party were forfeited and exiled. Ac-
cording to Dalrymple, the family of Soulis, neighbors
of the Armstrongs, seems to have been powerful during
the contest between Bruce and Baliol, for adhering to
the latter of whom they incurred forfeiture. The ro-
mantic castle of Hermitage was their home; its ruins
stand upon the north bank of the beautiful river of the
same name. Many weird tales are told of this strong-
hold and its masters. Thus lord Soulis was represented
as a cruel tyrant and sorcerer constantly harassing his
neighbors, and in this detestable conduct going so far
as to invoke the aid of evil spirits by incantations learned,
it is said, in a far-away country. The castle, unable to
support the load of iniquity which had long been ac-
cumulating within its walls, is supposed to have partly
sunk beneath the ground, and its ruins are still regarded
by the peasants with peculiar aversion and terror. Dur-
ing the Border wars a captain with a garrison of a hun-

90 €^vonitU^ of tf)e %tm^ttimsfi

dred men were kept here. (Barbour. Border Exploits.
Border Antiqutties.)

Across the river, in full view of Maingertoun and
facing the north wall of the castle, stands the Milnholm
Cross. Upon its shaft is carved a long two-headed
sword pointing downward. An addition bearing a shield
with arms has within a recent period been surmounted
upon the cross; probably about the same time the upper
portion of the face was removed, leaving the letters
A A and M A in relief. These replaced the original
characters A A II which were visible at the end of
the last century. (See map of 1812.) This monument

was erected about i'2 20 in memory of Alex-
17 2 0«
"^ . * ander Armstrong II, young lord of Mainger-
toun, treacherously killed by William lord Soulis at a
feast in the castle of Hermitage when the Black Bull's
head was placed upon the table. The cross marks the
spot where Alexander lies buried. There had been an
old feud between the Soulis and the Armstrongs, the
latter of whom were adherents of Bruce and Douglas,
most bitterly hated by Soulis. The monument was
erected in full view of the castle to remind the de-
scendants of Alexander of their feud with the Soulis
who came to a miserable end. Back of Milnholm, on
the same hillside, in Ettleton, the family burying-
ground, is an old gravestone now built into the wall
but well preserved; this stone has somewhat similar
characters, but they stand for Alexander sixth lord of
Maingertoun, designated by the symbolic tree upon the
back of the stone. (Border Exploits^ edition 181 2 with
old map. Chambers's Pictures of Scotland. Minstrelsy
of the Scottish Borders.)

r
Z
X
O
r
S

;•

■BMMMM

^■^>i^:j/j?

„./*^.

■*«/^-.

■MXhd

€f^t ^ou^t of d^ingrrtoun Bl

yllexandery Murdered by Sou/is.

"And Mangerton was basely slain,
While at the festal board: —
This is the recompense was made,
For saving Liddal's Lord.

" But Liddal's sons from Hermitage
Mangerton's corpse convey'd ;
And opposite his own high towers,
Was the procession staid,

" Till the attendants were refresh'd.
Who were oppress'd with grief;
And many a noble Armstrong there
Bewail'd his fallen chief.

"The cross, still standing at Millholm,
In antiquated state,
With a long sword and letters rude,
Emblems of Armstrong's fate.

" A stone, with a rude sculptur'd sword,
Was laid upon his grave;
And Liddal's sons did all bewail
Lord Mangerton the brave."

There was an old ballad of the death of " Alexander
young lord of Maingertoun murdered by Soulis," well-
known upon the Borders in the sixteenth century, of
which the following fragment is a part.

"And Mangerton was basely slain
While at the festal board."

Probably many of the lines in the later ballads here
given were taken from the mediaeval one. The story

92 €t^timic\t0 of t^e %xm^ttong^

was well known by the Liddesdale peasantry in the last
century. This tradition was often joined on to the one
called "Mangerton's Death," but in reality had nothing
to do with it. The former recounts the death of the
second lord of Maingertoun, Alexander Armstrong, who
lived at the beginning of the fourteenth century, the
hero commemorated by the Milnholm Cross. The
ballad of " Mangerton's Death " tells of Jock o' the Side
and Will o' Grena, men who lived in the latter half of
the sixteenth century, during which time there was no
Alexander lord of Mangerton.

When we consider the number of generations whose
memories had assisted in passing these traditions one to
another, father to son, mother to child, down through
the generations of two hundred years and more, it is
not surprising that, when they had disappeared from
Liddesdale, there was some misunderstanding as to time
of events.

Although in modern verse, the following tradition is
the older story and was introduced into the "Cout of
Keeldar" by Dr. John Leyden, a renowned and con-
scientious Border poet. Keeldar, a Northumbrian chief,
had been hunting in the neighboring forest and was in-
vited to dine at Soulis's castle of Hermitage; but, know-
ing the character of Soulis and having a foreboding of
treachery, he warned his followers of the danger and re-
lated to them the sad death of Alexander the young lord
of Maingertoun. Nevertheless, disdaining fear and being
too noble to exhibit outward suspicion, they entered in.
Keeldar's presentiment came only too true; he was mur-
dered while trying to escape. His grave may be seen

Zf^t S^oujtfe of ^^atngcrtoun 93

to this day near the castle, "where weeps the birch of
silver bark, with long dishevelled hair."

Soon from the lofty towers were hied
A knight across the vale ;
" I greet your master well," he cried,
" From Soulis of Liddesdale.

" He heard your bugle's echoing call,
In his green garden bower;
And bids you to his festive hail.
Within his ancient tower." —

Young Keeldar called his hunter train; —
" For doubtful cheer prepare !
And, as you open force disdain,
Of secret guile beware.

" *Twas here for Mangerton's brave lord
A bloody feast was set,
Who weetless at the festal board,
The bull's broad frontlet met.

"Then ever, at uncourteous feast,
Keep every man his brand ;
And, as you 'mid his friends are placed.
Range on the better hand.

"And, if the bull's ill-omen'd head
Appear to grace the feast,
Your whingers, with unerring speed,
Plunge in each neighbor's breast."

In Hermitage they sat at dine,

In pomp and proud array ;

And oft they fill'd the blood-red wine,

While merry minstrels play.

94 <Ci)ronicIeje( of tf)e 3llrm;e^on0iBr

And many a hunting-song they sung,
And song of game and glee;
Then tuned fo plaintive strains their tongue,
" Of Scotland's luve and lee."

To wilder measures next they turn :
"The Black Black Bull of Noroway ! "
Sudden the tapers cease to burn.
The minstrels cease to play.

• •••••

He bursts the doors; the roofs resound;
With yells the castle rung;
Before him with a sudden bound,
His favorite bloodhound sprung.

Ere he could pass, the door was barr'd ;
And grating harsh from under.
With creaking, jarring noise, was heard
A sound like distant thunder.

• ••••«

With breath drawn in, the murderous crew

Stood listening to the yell ;

And greater still their wonder grew,

As on their ear it fell.

They listen'd for a human shriek
Amid the jarring sound;
They only heard in echoes weak,
The murmurs of the hound.

The death-bell rung, and wide were flung.

The castle gates amain ;

While hurry out the armed rout.

And marshal on the plain.

" Ah ! ne'er before in Border feud
Was seen so dire a fray ! "

(From Dr. J. Leyden's "Cout of Kecldar.")

€f^e ^ou^t of l!l^n0ertoun 95

It is not known to which lord Soulis the next old
legend refers. Redcap was the spirit dwarf that haunted
Hermitage and from whom lord Soulis bore a charmed
life. As long as he held his life from him Redcap was
his warrant against lance and arrow, sword and knife.
His home was in an old chest bound with iron bands
and secured with rusty padlocks. The circle of stones
here alluded to are on the Nine-stane rig near Hermi-
tage, and may still be seen. The lead into which they
rolled lord Soulis was taken from the roof.

" Think not but Soulis was wae to yeald,
His warlock chamber o'er,
He took the keys from the rusty lock,
That ne'er were ta'en before
He threw them o'er his left shoulder
With mickle care and pain ;
And he bade it keep them ; fathoms deep
Till he returned again.

" On a circle of stones they placed the pot.
On a circle of stones but barely nine;
They heated it red and fiery hot,
Till the burnish'd brass did glimmer and shine,
They roll'd him up in a sheet of lead,
A sheet for a funeral pall:
They plung'd him in the cauldron red.
And melted him, lead and all."

(F^rom Border Exploits^ edit. 1840.)

" Rude Border Chiefs, of mighty name.
And iron soul, who sternly tore
The blossoms from the tree of fame.
And purpled deep their tints with gore,

98 <Cf)ronttIeie( of tfje ^rmj^trongiec

Rush from brown ruins, scarr'd with age
That frown o'er haunted Hermitage;
Where, long by spells mysterious bound,
They pace their round, with lifeless smile.
And shake, with restless foot, the guilty pile,
Till sink the mouldering towers beneath the
burdened ground."

(John Lcyden.)

King Robert Bruce died in 1329 at the age
*^ "* of ^^, having reigned twenty-four years. One
of his last commands was to carry his heart to Jerusalem
and lay it in the holy soil where once the Saviour trod.
Hector Boece, in his very delightful though some-
what apocryphal Chronicles of Scotlandy tells us that
"quhen Schir James Douglas was chosin as maist worthy
of all Scotland to pass with King Robertis hart to the
Holy Land, he put it in ane cais of gold, with arro-
mitike and precious unyementis; and tuke with him
Schir William Sinclare and Schir Robert Logan, with
mony othir nobilmen, to the haily graif "

Prof. William Edmondstone Aytoun gives us a faith-
ful conception of this expedition in his sonorous ballad,
"The Heart of Robert Bruce," of which are here pre-
sented a few chosen verses.

"Thou know'st the words King Robert spoke
Upon his dying day:
How he bade me take his noble heart
And carry it far away ;

€I)e f^oufit of Sl^atngertoun 97

"And aye we sailed, and aye we sailed,
Across the weary sea.
Until one morn the coast of Spain
Rose grimly on our lee.

" *The Moors have come from Africa
To spoil, and waste, and slay.
And King Alonzo of Castile
Must fight with them to-day.'

• •••••

"And many a bearded Saracen
Went down, both horse and man;
For through their ranks we rode like com,
So furiously we ran !

" But in behind our path they closed
Though fain to let us through ;
For they were forty thousand men.
And we were wondrous few.

"There lies above his master's heart
The Douglas stark and grim ;
And woe, that I am living man.
Not lying there by him.

We lifted thence the good Lord James,
And the priceless heart he bore;
And heavily we steered our ship
Towards the Scottish shore.

"We laid our chief in Douglas Kirk,
The heart in fair Melrose;
And woful men were we that day —
God grant their souls repose."

98 C^roniclejtf of ti)t ^drmj^trongitf

And therefore the heart upon a Border shield has refer-
ence to the pilgrimage of the good Sir James Douglas
of Angus, killed in battle by the Moors while endeavor-
ing to carry King Robert's heart to Jerusalem. Many
of the Borderers took part in the journey. (Aytoun.)

SHIELD IN ETTLETON.

In this year a payment of j[/^o was made by
'^^ ' the chamberlain of Scotland to Richard

Harmestrang, for loan by him to the King at Calays.

Payments were also made to him in the following year.

(Exchequer Rolls, vol. i, p. 828.)

Q Letters of safe conduct were, on the recom-
*^ "^ * mendation of Thomas earl of Angus, granted

to a person bearing this suruame. (Rotuli Scotiay vol.

I, p. 828.) We also learn that letters of safe conduct

were in 1362-63 granted to a Mr. William Arme-

strang, a fellow traveller, and two servants. (Ibid, p. 871.)

€^t ^mx^t of i^l^atngertoun 09

, From 1 36 1 to 1373 frequent mention is
*^ * made of Mr. Gilbert Armstrong, a church-
man of distinction and a person of considerable impor-
tance during the reign of David II and Robert II. In
1361-62 he was one of the canons of Moray (Elgin),
and received letters of safe conduct 28th February of
that year. From letters of safe conduct of 5th Decem-
ber, 1363, his presence in England is accounted for, as
he is there referred to as residing in that country for
the purpose of studying at the University of Oxford.
In the following year, 1363-64, March 4th, he was
one of the three commissioners despatched to England
to arrange about the ransom of King David II, then a
prisoner in England. Again in 1364-65, January 13th,
he was one of the four persons selected by Parliament
to treat for peace with England, and also regarding the
amount to be paid for the ransom of the king, and
on 1 2th February he received letters of safe conduct.
In 1365 the Bishop of St. Andrews, together with Mr.
Gilbert Armstrong, as provost of St. Andrews, and
others, were entrusted with negotiations relating to the
ransom of King David, and on 15th August they re-
ceived letters of safe conduct. In the following year,
1366, as provost of St. Andrews, he was again joined
with the same bishop and others, who were, on 20th
July, entrusted by Parliament assembled at Scone to
arrange not only for a peace for three years, but also
about the ransom of the king, and on i8th August
they received letters of safe conduct. On the 26th
October of the same year, he also received letters of

safe conduct permitting him to return to England for

L..FC.

100 C[)ronicIe^ of t^t ^Urmiertrong^

the purpose of studying at the University of Oxford or
elsewhere. On 5th December, 1367, he received fur-
ther letters of safe conduct. At a subsequent period,
1373, he visited Flanders, and on 27th August received
letters of safe conduct enabling him to return to Scot-
land. As provost of St. Andrews he witnessed a char-
ter of 26th January, 1391-92. (Reg. Mag. Sig., p. 203.)
We also find a knight of the same surname

*^ ' ^* amongst those who were permitted to travel
in company with the earl of March in 1374. This
knight was "Adam Armstrong, chevalier." [History
of Liddesdale.)

. In the late fourteenth century tax-list of Lid-

^ ' ' desdale a number of names of occupiers of

lands occur such as Sturhes, Croyser, Fethyng, Loumane,

Alani, Raufson, Broun, Gilson, Nobill, Stodhirde,

Meryng, Nycson, Roberts de Lawis (L'ourse), and

Alexandir Armystrand of Mangerton. His name with

GefFry and David Armystrand appears amongst the

"borowis" for the earl of Douglas in 1398. Of all

the surnames noticed only three will be found in the

list of 1 541. [Registrum Honoris de Morton.)

Robert Armstrong and Margaret Temple his
I777» .

•^ ' ' * wife were in possession of a portion of the

manor of Thorpe, Nottinghamshire, as early as 1377.

A pedigree of their descendants for ten generations,

ending in Gabriel Armstrong, 1672, will be found in

Thoroton's History of NottinghamshirCy vol. i, pp. 75,

76. The arms of the family, three dexter arms vam-

braced, are illustrated in vol. 2 of the same work. (See

1672 and the Legend of the Three Arms.)

€I)e l^oui^e of iSl^aiitgertoun

101

g g In Thomas Johne's early
•^ * sarfs Chronicles Sir Tohn ,

translation of Frois-
John Armstrong is named
as one of the knights who, August 19th, 1388, fought
against the earl of Northumberland at Otterburne.

Froissart, who obtained his account of this conflict
from knights engaged on either side, tells us that "of
all the battles described in his history, great and small,
Otterburne was the best fought and most severe; for
there was not a man, knight, or squire who did not
acquit himself gallantly, hand to hand, with the enemy."
He also gives a list of forty-seven of the valiant knights
and squires of Scotland who were present on the occa-
sion and particularly distinguished themselves, many of
whom belonged to the great Border houses. Among
these he names "Sir John Amourstan [Sir John Arm-
strong]; John Makirel [Maxwell]; Mess John Gladwin
[Gladstone] ; Mess John Ermouscon [Master John
Armstrong]." At this period the Christian name of
the chief of the Armstrongs was Alexander.

It seems that Sir John Armstrong was identical with
John the Reif placed by Gawin Douglas, bishop of
Dunkeld, among the popular heroes of romance in his

102 €ttmm\tst of tf^t Hvm^ttonQ^

allegorical Pa/ice of Honour and conjectured by Lord
Hailes to have been John Armstrong. He could hardly
have meant Johnie of Gilnockie, executed by James
the Fifth, for the Palice of Honour was printed twenty-
eight years before Johnie's execution. In that curious
verse the most noted romances or popular histories of
the poet's day were noticed; for example:

"I saw Raf Coilyear with his thrawin brow,
Crabit John the Reif, and auld Cowkilbeis Sow,*
An how the wran [wren] cam out of Ailesay."

John the Reif is mentioned by Lindesay, in his tragedy
of Cardinal Beaton :

"disagysit, like John the Reif, he gied."

Dunbar also speaks of him in one of his poems:

" Kyne of Rauf Colyard, and John the Reif."

They seem both to have been "raubritter" and are
generally mentioned together. Although of Norman
origin, the story of Rauf Colyear was well known in
the neighborhood of Terwinney, County Fermanagh,
where there is a hill named after him; Mr. David
Laing reprinted the story. John the Reif was probably
the same as he of whom they recited:

"Sum spoke to John with the stirrup on,
Would'st rent this cloak in twain ? "

Upon the Gillside Stone the second grandson of the first
lord of Maingertoun is designated by a stirrup, which is
also told of Sir John in the Fermanagh tale. He may
have lived in a castle which in former times stood upon

*The sow was a military engine resembling the Roman testudo.

€I)e ^tu^t of ^^ingmoun )03

the high embankment overhanging the Esk at Gilnockie
bridge, where foundations are still visible, for near this
spot was found carved upon a broken slab his insignia,
the stirrup of a knight, and upon another the mono-
gram composed of the letters J A and a tree. To this
day the descendants of old Eskdale families will state
that here stood a castle which belonged to John Arm-
strong, built much earlier than Gilnockie in the Hol-
low. His grave is pointed out in Ettleton. (William
Armstrong of Caulside.)

A stone at the end of
Gilnockie Bridge.

In the vicinity of Penrith, in the county of Cumber-
land, about eight miles south of Carlisle, and on the
river Eden which runs by Carlisle, is Eden Hall, the
seat of the Border family of Musgraves, who came to
England with William the Conqueror. This was the
home of Sir Michael Musgrave, who in 1388

"In secret sort allured out
The Bridegroom for to fight."

lOSk €f^ximk\tfi of tf)e %tmmimgii

This ballad was copied from one published in the
year 1725 and was then called ancient. It appears to
refer to Young John Armstrong.

Sir John Armstrong's Marriage.

"As it fell out one Whitsonday,
The Blith Time of the Year,
When every Tree was clad with green,
And pretty Birds sing clear:
The Lady Dacres took her way
Unto the Church that pleasant Day
With her fair Daughter, fresh and gay,
A bright and bonny Lass.

"Sir Michael Musgrave in like sort
To Church repaired then,
And so did Sir John Armstrong too,
With all his merry Men ;
Two greater Friends there could not be,
Nor braver Knights for Chivalry,
Both Batchelors of high Degree,
Fit for a bonny Lass.

" They sat them down upon one Seat,
Like loving Brethren dear,
With Hearts and Minds devoutly bent
God's Service for to hear.
But rising from their Prayers tho'
Their Kyes a ranging strait did go.
Which wrought their utter Overthrow,
All for one bonny Lass.

"Quoth Musgrave unto Armstrong then.
Yon sits the sweetest Dame,
That ever for her fair Beauty,
Within this Country came.

€I)e f$ovi^t of iSl^atngertoun 105

Insooth, quoth Armstrong presently,
Your Judgment I must verify,
There never came unto my Eye,
A braver bonny Lass.

" I swear, said Musgrave, by this Sword,
Which did my Knighthood win.
To steal away so sweet a Dame,
Could be no Ghostly Sin.
That Deed, quoth Armstrong, would be ill,
Except you had her right good Will,
That your Desire she would fulfil.
And be thy bonny Lass.

" By this the Service quite was done.
And home the People past ;
They wished a Blister, on his Tongue,
That made thereof such haste.
At the Church-Door the Knights did meet,
The Lady Dacres for to greet.
But most of all her Daughter sweet.
That beauteous bonny Lass.

" Said Armstrong to the Lady fair.
We both have made a Vow,
At Dinner for to be your Guests,
If you will it allow.
With that bespoke the Lady free.
Sir Knights, right welcome shall you be.
The happier Men therefore are wc.
For Love of this bonny Lass.

"Thus were the Knights both prick'd in Love,
Both in one Moment thrall'd,
And both with one fair Lady gay.
Fair Isabella call'd.

With humble Thanks they went away.
Like wounded Harts chas'd all the Day

106 €l)romc!cjtf of tfje SlntiitftrongiBf

One would not to the other say,
They lov'd this bonny Lass.

" Fair Isabel on the other side
As far in Love was found,
So long brave Armstrong she had ey'd,
Till Love her Heart did wound:
Brave Armstrong is my Joy, quoth she;
Would Christ he were alone with me,
To talk an Hour two or three
With his fair bonny Lass.

" But as these Knights together rode.
And Homeward did repair.
Their Talk and eke their Countenance shew'd.
Their Hearts were clogg'd with Care.
Fair Isabel, the one did say.
Thou hast subdu'd my Heart this Day.
But she's my Joy, did Musgrave say,
My bright and bonny Lass.

" With that these Friends incontinent,
Became most deadly Foes,
For love of beauteous Isabel,
Great Strife betwixt them rose:
Quoth Armstrong, She shall be my Wife,
Although for her I lose my Life;
And thus began a deadly Strife,
And for one bonny Lass.

" Thus two Years long this Grudge did grow,
These gallant Knights bet^veen,
While they awooing both did go.
Unto this beauteous Queen:
And she who did their P'uries prove.
To neither would bewray her Love,
The deadly Quarrel to remove.
About this bonny Lass.

€I)e t^mn^t of Sl^ahtgertoun 107

" But neither for her fair Intreats,
Nor yet her sharp Dispute,
Would they appease their raging Ire,
Nor yet give o'er their Suit.
The Gentlemen of the North Country,
At last did make this good Decree,
All for a perfect Unity,
About this bonny Lass.

" The Love-sick Knights should both be set
Within one Hall so wide,
Each of them in a gallant sort,
Even at a several Tide ;
And 'twixt them both for certainty.
Fair Isabel should placed be,
Of them to take her Choice full free.
Most like a bonny Lass.

" And as she like an Angel bright,
Betwixt them mildly stood,
She turn'd unto each several Knight
With pale and changed Blood :
Now am I at liberty

To make and take my Choice, quoth she.
Yea, quoth the Knights, we do agree.
Then chuse thou bonny Lass.

" O Musgrave, thou art all to hot
To be a Lady's Love,
Quoth she, and Armstrong seems a Sot,
Where Love binds him to prove;
Of courage great is Musgrave still.
And sith to chuse I have my will.
Sweet Armstrong shall my Joys fulfil.
And I his bonny Lass.

" The Nobles and the Gentles both.
That were in present Place,

* 108 €t^nnit\t0 of t^t %tmiftvimq^

Rcjoyced at this sweet Record ;

But Musgrave in Disgrace,

Out of the Hall did take his way,

And Armstrong marryed was next Day,

With Isabel his Lady gay,

A bright and bonny Lass.

" But Musgrave on the Wedding-Day,
Like to a Scotchman dight,
In secret sort allured out
The Bridegroom for to fight;
And he that will not out-brav'd be.
Unto his Challenge did agree,
Where he was slain most suddenly
For his fair bonny Lass.

"The News whereof was quickly brought
Unto the lovely Bride:
And many of young Armstrong's Kin
Did after Musgrave ride;
They hew'd him when they had him got,
As small as Flesh into the Pot,
Lo ! thus befel a heavy Lot,
About this bonny Lass.

"The Lady young, which did lament
This cruel cursed Strife,
For very Grief dyed that Day,
A Maiden and a Wife:
An hundred Men, that hapless Day,
Did lose their Lives in that same Fray;
And 'twixt those Names, as many say.
Is deadly Strife still 'biding."

« An agreement had been entered into, i6th

*^" * March, 1397-98, by the Dukes of Rothesay

and Lancaster, to the effect that all the prisoners who

€i)e i^ou^e of iSt^otngettoun 100

had been captured on either side since the commence-
ment of the truce made at Lolly nghame in 1389,
should be delivered without ransom, and those who
had paid their ransoms should have their ransoms re-
stored before the feast of Midsummer, 1398. This had
not been attended to, and the commissioners, at a meet-
ing at Clockmabanestane (Lochmaben Stone, a re-
markable boulder, which may still be seen on the farm
of Old Gretna, was frequently named as the place of
meeting for the wardens of the West Marches of Scot-
land and England), on 6th November, 1398, decided
that all prisoners undelivered should be delivered before
the feast of Saint Martin, and that all those who had
paid their ransoms should have their ransoms returned
to them before "the Fastyngange Sunday" (Shrove or
Quinquagesima) following; and "to the fulfilling of the
quhilk, Sire John of Johnstowin, Sire John of Corlel,
Sire Willame Stewarte of Castel-Mylke, knychts, Har-
barte of Corry, John of Carruthirs, John of Glendo-
wyne, Simown of Glendonwyne, Nicol Litil, Alexander
Armystrang, Geffry Armystrang, Davy Armystrang, and
William Nykson, were borowis for the erlis bownds of
Douglas for the West Marche of Scotland." "And the
samyn knyghts and sqwiers did heytht [promise] before
the said commissaris, be thare gude faithis, that thai
would wele and trewly kepe thir presentz trewis that
ar accepte be bathe the kyngs, and at thai would redress,
and ger be redressyt, wele and trewly, eftir thair lele
powair, al the attemptats done syn the begynnynge of
the said trewis takyn at Lollynghame, without frawde
or gyle, eftir the fourme and effect of the said enden-

no CI)ronicIejtf of ti^t %rm0tt(ms0

turs, made at Hawdcnstank, the xvj day of March last
passit, be the forsaid Duks of Rothyssai and Lancastrc,
and the fourm of the trcwes forsaid ; and at thai should,
with thair poware, lett al men of the party of Scotland
that wuld passe thrw thair bownds to do harme in Ing-
land or til any Inglisman." (History of Liddesdale.)

The Alexander Armystrand named as residing at
Maingertoun in the tax list of 1376 was probably the
Alexander who, with Geffry and David Armstrong and
other knights and squires, became surety for the Earl
of Douglas in 1398, sufficient proof that there were at
that time belonging to the surname persons of consid-
eration residing on the Border.

We learn from William Armstrong, Esq., of

^ "^* Kershope House, who obtained the informa-
tion from a manuscript at Hesleyside, North Tynedale,
that Rouland Armestrange was one of the 34 lancers
under Sir John Gray at Agincourt in 141 5.

, David Armstrang of Sourby, in Ewesdale, and

^■^ * Archibald Armstrang were witnesses to a
notarial instrument dated 2d November, 1456. [Scotts
of Buccleuch.)

By a deed of resignation executed at Branxhelme,
November 2d, 1482, Thomas Armstrang, fifth lord of
Maingertoun, by his procurators, surrendered absolutely
and forever his lands of Maingertoun lying within the
lordship of Liddesdale, into |he hands of the Earl of
Angus, to whom the house was known of old, in favor
of David Scott of Branxhelme. A few days later, 1 2th
y November, on account of service in many

^ * ways rendered, David Scott received from the

€i)e f$im0t of ^^oingertoun \\\

carl a charter of the lands of Maingcrtoun which had
belonged to Thomas Armstrang hereditably, and which
the said Thomas had, neither by force nor fear but by his
own free will, resigned. (Scoffs of Buccleuch.^ The Arm-
strongs retained or recovered their possessions (see 1541,
1563, 1583) and throughout the sixteenth century their
chiefs resided at Maingertoun although the Scotts of
Buccleuch may not have relinquished their title. (See
1550-51.) In the tax list of 1541 Maingertoun is
named as belonging hereditably to the Armstrongs.
But from this time on there is little doubt but that the
Armstrongs determined to consider themselves English
even though they dwelt upon the Scottish side of the
Border. (See 151 3, 15 17, July 17th, 151 8, 1563-66.)
Thomas Armstrong, mentioned in the deed of resigna-
tion, is represented upon the Gillside Stone as the fifth
lord of Maingertoun and by the monogram composed
of the letters T A. He should not be confused with
Thomas the seventh lord, who died 1548-49.

Q Q The house of Douglas was founded upon the
^ * ruins of the Soulis. They became wardens of
the East and Middle Marches, lords of Liddesdale and
Jedwood forest, and possessed of the strong castles of
Douglas, Hermitage, and Tantallon. Highly esteemed
by the ancient nobility, a faction which they headed
shook the throne of the feeble James III of Scotland,
whose person they restrained and whose minions they
led to an ignominious death. The king was supported
by almost all the barons of the North; but the tumul-
tuous ranks of the Highlanders were ill able to endure
the steady and rapid charge of the men of Annandale

112 C^rontcleitf of ti^t %vm0ttwtiit

and Liddesdale, who bore spears two ells longer than
were used by the rest of their countrymen. And Archi-
bald, fifth earl of Angus, called Bell-the-Cat, at this
time could easily levy a thousand horse comprehending
the houses of Elliots, Armstrongs, and their followers.

" Princes and favorites long grew tame,
And trembled at the homely name

Of Archibald Bell-the-cat;
The same who left the dusky vale
Of Hermitage in Liddesdale,

Its dungeons, and its towers.
Where Bothwell's turrets brave the air,
And Bothwell bank is blooming fair,

To fix his princely bowers." (Marmion.)

We now hear of the Armstrongs, Elliots or
tVJ* Elwalds, Crossars, Wighams, Nyksons, and
Henrisons in connection with a widespread conspiracy
to place Warbeck on the English throne. A rising in
Ireland and the proclamation of the imposter in Eng-
land was to be followed by the invasion of the latter
country by the young Scottish king, James IV, but an
ill-timed inroad by the impetuous Armstrongs, Elwalds,
and others, undertaken during the month of November,
1493, with the view of inducing the inhabitants of
Northumberland to rise in favor of Warbeck, drew
the attention of the English monarch to the conspiracy
and enabled him successfully to grapple with the diffi-
culty. (Tytler.)

On the 1 6th November, 1493, commissioners were
appointed on the part of England to treat regarding the
limits of the Debateable Land in the West Marches and

€I)e ^nuift of iQ^aingertoun 113

the site and boundaries of the monastery of Canaby.
(Rotuii Scotia f vol. ii, p. 513.)

On 1 9th November Walter in Harden made his sub-
mission at a justiciary court held at Jedburgh, on the
charge of communicating with Archibald Armstrong,
at the horn (outlawed) for the slaughter of the Laird
of Eldmer. (Books of Adjournal, manuscript, Justiciary
Office, vol. 1 493-1 504, f 7, p. 2.)

A small river, now known as the Line, rises

'^^■^' in the northeast of Cumberland, and after
draining the districts of Bewcastle, Stapleton, and Kirk-
linton falls into the Solway Firth between the Esk and
the Eden. This river was, during the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries, known as the Levyn, and the dis-
trict through which it takes its course was, like the
Debateable Land, infested by the outlaws of both na-
tions. A number of these fugitives of the surnames of
Elliot and Armstrong had been recently engaged in
"hereschip" of Quitmur, from which place they had
carried off a hundred cows and oxen and much other
booty. Hector Lauder, brother of the laird of Todrig,
being accused of the treasonable inbringing of these
outlaws and of the Forstars, and also of the common
resetting of the Elwalds, Armstrangs, and Forstars in
their common rapines, appeared before the justice court
at Jedburgh, on the 28th February, 1494-95, and pro-
duced a remission for the same. (Books of Adjournal,
manuscript. Justiciary Office, vol. 1493-1504, ff. 25,
p. 2 ; 26, p. I ; 26, p. 2 ; 27, p. I .) Among those named
are William Armstrang, George Armstrang, Patrick
Armstrang, Alexander Armstrang, Thome Armstrang,

114 Cfironiclcjfif of tf>e SCrmjBftrongjtf

Robert Armstrang, Archibald Armstrang, Andrew Arm-
strang, and William Armstrang called Slittrik.

At the justiciary court, commencing at Liddesdale on
2d March, 1494-95, Patrick earl of Bothvill, lord of
Liddalisdale, and George Turnbull of Aula de Rule
(Halrule), captain of Hermitage at that time, were
called as lawful sureties for twelve Armstrangs, Elwalds,
and others, for whom they as governors of the dis-
trict had become lawful surety, and not appearing they
were fined ten pounds each for eighty-four persons
mentioned. (History of Liddesdale.)

On 5th March John Scott of Dalloraine appeared
before the justice court at Selkirk and was allowed to
compound for the treasonable resetting of Hector Arm-
strang, a traitor of Levyn. (Books of Adjournal, manu-
script. Justiciary Office, vol. 1493 ^° ^S^^-)

^ Patrick earl of Bothwell was at this period
^ * not only lord of Liddesdale but probably
lieutenant and warden of the Middle March. He re»
ceived in an indenture from the "crownar" a number
of Borderers, — among whom were "George Arm-
strong, Hector's bruther; Willyam Elwald, his mach;
Alexander Armistrang, Robert Armistrang, Archibald
Armistrang, Andro Armistrang, Androi's son, Wilyam
Armistrang, callit Sittrick, Hector Armstrang, and Wil-
yam of Dalgless [William of Douglas] with Hector
Armistrang's bruther," — for whom he had become
pledged to enter to the justice aire at Jedburgh, on 226.
October, 1498. This he failed to do and was conse-
quently adjudged in the sum of £SS^ Scots. (Reg.
Sec. Sig., vol. ii, p. 45.)

€I)e l^ou^e of ^^aingcrtoun 115

The family now divides into four houses, named
again in the Elizabethan report of 1563. They were
the old house of Maingertoun, represented by Alexander
the sixth lord, father of Thomas the Gude Laird and
John of Gilnockie; the hardy house of Whithaugh,
founded by John, the father of Sym the

•^ * Larde and David the Lady; the house of
Ailmure, represented by George, the father of Hector
with the Griefs and the Cuts; and the house of the
Chingils, sometimes called of Raltoun, headed by 111
Will, whose son was called 111 Will's Sande.

The name Chingils in the course of time merged
into that of Gingles. Ailmure is now Aislie-moor.
The three founders of these new houses established
their homes upon that side of the Liddal situated near
England. The lands to the Scottish side were outlying
grazing grounds and mostly occupied by their younger
sons. Maingertoun, Whithaugh, Ailmure, and the
Chingils almost adjoined each other. Upon the Gill-
side Stone the four sons are designated by four rays de-
scending from the monogram of Thomas Armstrong,
fifth lord of Maingertoun, and distinguished upon the
shield following. These are the four branches repre-
sented upon later shields by the four roots of the oak.
There were at least twelve grandsons, and the surname
numbered altogether about seventy. (Blaeu's Map of
Liddesdale. See 1492, 1501, 1510, 1524, 1525, 1530,

1541, 1563-66, 1590, I597-)

We learn from a Cumberland manuscript of the six-
teenth century that the Armstrongs, although trouble-
some to England, were respected there because they at

119 €f^vonit\tft of tf)e SCrmj^trongj^

any time could produce three or four hundred men to
light for the English. (Hisi. Families of Dumfriesshire.)

On the 1 8th of June, 1501, a letter under the privy

seal was despatched to the Border, directing the Armes-

strongis to the number of seventy to appear at Selkirk

on the 2 1st day of the same month, to un-

•^ ' derly the law for the slaughter of John
Blackburne. This summons was evidently not attended
to. Shortly after, orders were despatched to the Earl
of Bothwell, as the king's lieutenant, "to pas upoun
saidis Armestrangis, rebellis, thar assistaris, pert takaris,
and resettaris, and to perseve [pursue] thame to deid,
and to take thare gudis." (Reg. Sec. Sig., vol. ii, p. 50.)

At the justice aire held at Jedburgh, on 31st Octo-
ber, 1502, David Scott of Stirkschawis produced a re-
mission for the treasonable inbringing of Archibald and
Ninian Armestrang, with other traitors of Leven and
Liddalisdale, to the burning and plundering of Cra-
gend of Minto and Syntoune where they killed two
persons. Richard Armstrang also plundered

^ * Fechane. These individuals were unusually
active this year, and in the foregoing raids captured
some 400 oxen and cows, 104 horses, 200 sheep, with
a large amount of goods and money. (Books of Ad-
journal, manuscript, Justiciary Office, vol. 1 493-1 504.)

The king visited the Border early in November. He
was at Jedburgh the 5th and iith, and on the 15th
Edmund Armstrang, together with George and Hector,
his brothers, all of Liddesdale, appeared by his com-
mand to answer for the burning of Bothnichelis and
the "hereschip" of 300 sheep, 60 oxen and cows, 20

€f^c l^ou^e of O9ain0ertoun 117

horses and marcs, and sundry goods. These Armstrongs
with others of their name were tried on the same day
for different offences. Later on in the same year we
read of Edward Armstrong, George in Raltoune, and
Hector, their brother, accused of plundering Robert
Ker and his tenants, from the place Elereif in Ettrick
forest. William and Edward pledge to satisfy the par-
ties. (Books of Adjournal, manuscript. Justiciary Office,
vol. 1 493-1 504.)

On the 2d September, 1503, King James IV again
visited the Borders and despatched a messenger to the
Armestrangis commanding them to appear before him.

We have no knowledge of their having at-
I CO 7* .

•^ '^' tended to the summons, and it cannot be

stated whether they submitted and received a pardon for
their offences. It is also noticeable that although Both-
well was lord of Liddesdale, warden of the West and
Middle Marches, and also lieutenant, it cannot be
stated that he accompanied his sovereign upon this ex-
pedition. (Lord Treasurer's Accounts of Scotland, f.

163 b.)

On 17th November, 1508, Adam Hepburn, earl of

Bothwell, he who afterwards died on Flodden by his

g sovereign's side (see 151 3), was served heir

-^ * to his father in the lordship of Lidellisdaill.
[Scotts of Buccleuch.)

"A respit maid to Robert Elwald of Redheuch"

(then follow other names) "and Alexander Armestrang,

saufly and surelie to cum to the kingis presence to

Striveling, or quhare it happenis him to be

■^ * for the tyme, thar saufly and surelie to remane

118 €f^tii\\it\tft of tf)e %tmf^txwQ0

and abide for the expedition and doing of thare matteris
concernyng gude reule to be had and kepit in the
cuntre quhare thai remane, and all utheris thar lefull
erandis, and saufly and surely to returne and pas agane
to the partis thai com fra, without any hurt, harme,
etc., to thaim, or any of them, for ony maner of crime,
offence, or action committit and done be thaim in ony
tyme bigane before the date hereof, and to endure for
thre monthis, etc. At Striveling, the X day of Maij,
the day aforesaid. [1510.] Subscriptum per Regem."
The following note appears on the margin : ** Gratis,
Comiti de Boithuile." (Reg. Sec. Sig., vol. iv, f. 64.)

On May 26th, 15 10, King James IV granted a fur-
ther respite to the Armestrangis and courteously invited
them to Edinburgh, permitting them to visit any "bur-
rows" they pleased for the purchase of necessaries, con-
jointly and severally, without harm for any manner of
crime or offense in the past. The King also declared
that he took them and their goods under his special
protection. (Reg. Sec. Sig., vol. iv, f 66.)

There appears to have been every inclination on the
part of James to treat the Border clans in a fair and
conciliatory spirit; by granting remissions and inviting
the attendance of their chiefs to consult with them and
his council concerning the better ruling of their coun-
try, he inaugurated a policy which, had it been carried
out, would have done far more towards the quieting of
the Border than the severe measures afterwards resorted
to by his successors. There is reason for supposing that
a meeting of the leading clansmen and their sovereign
took place after the issue of the letters of safe conduct

€f)e l^otutfe of a^atngtrtoun 110

of the loth and 26th of May, and the following docu-
ment, more important than either of the preceding,
may be accepted as the result of so desirable an inter-
view: "A respitt maid to Robert Elwald of Redheuch,"
"Sym Armstrang, Thomas Armstrang, George Arm-
strang," "and to all and sindry utheris, the inhabitaris
and induellaris [indwellers] within the boundis of the
lordschip of Liddisdale, for quhatsumevir crimez com-
mittit and done be thaim, or ony of thaim, in timez
bigane unto the day of the date hereof, tresson in the
kingis person alanerly [only] except, to be unpunyst in
thare persons for XIX yeris nixt to cum efter the date
hereof, etc. Of the date at Jedburgh, the XK day of
November, the yere, etc., V^ and X yeris, and of the
king the XXiij yere. Gratis Ade Hepburne de Craggis.
Subscriptum per dominum Regem." (Reg. Sec. Sig.,
vol. iv, fol. 93.)

This respite had naturally the effect of inducing those
who had assisted the Liddesdale men in their evil prac-
tices to make peace with the crown. The name of
Alexander Armestrang, which occurs in the respite of
loth of May, 1510, does not appear in this document.
At the date of his summons he may have been chief of
his clan, and, if so, in the event of his decease, his place
would naturally be filled by one of his kinsmen. Alex-
ander, the oldest of the four brothers, was represented
upon later shields as the trunk of the oak. Two of
those who now come to the front we can identify —
Sym, as **Sym the lord" of Whithaugh, a moving spirit
on the Borders, who will be frequently mentioned, and
whose execution occurred in 1535-36, and Thomas, as

120 €t^nnit\t0 of tf)t %tni0tnng0

"Thorn the gude lord" of Maingertoun, who figured
conspicuously in Border warfare during the minority of
Mary Queen of Scots. George, the brother of Thomas
of Maingertoun, is mentioned in Holinshed's Scottish
Chronicles and Lesley's History of Scotland.

The great battle of Flodden took place not many
miles from the Border upon the 9th of September,
I 51 3. In this battle James IV fought not only in per-
son, but actually on foot and at the head of his army.
Besides King James there fell many noblemen of high
rank. Archibald, fifth earl of Angus, better

I ^ I '^t o '

"^ *^' known as Bell-the-Cat, was there and was
one of the survivors, but his son George, master of An-
gus, fell fighting by the side of King James. How the
clans of Liddesdale fared that day has not been record-
ed. They probably formed a portion of the reserve
commanded by their feudal superior Adam Hepburn,
second earl of Bothwell, who with numerous lords, lead-
ers of kinsmen, and younger sons of illustrious houses
died in defence of their sovereign. Few families of
note in Scotland did not lose one relative or another;
some houses had to weep the death of all; but for the
name of Armstrong we search the lists in vain. "Even
now," said Aytoun, "the songs and traditions which are
current on the Border recall the memory of a contest
unsullied by disgrace, though terminating in disaster
and defeat."

" I've heard them lilting at the ewes milking,
* The flowers of the forrest are a'wede away,
I ride single on my saddle,
The flowers of the forrest arc a'wede away.' "

€I)e ^m^t of ^amgrrtoun 121

Lord Dacrc immediately followed up the battle of
Flodden by an English raid into Eskdale and Lower
Annandale and was joined by the Armstrongs, Grahms,
and some of the Scots. (Hist. Families of Dumfriesshire.)

On the 1 8th May, 15 17, a few days before he set

sail for France, Albany, regent of Scotland, granted a

"respitt" "to all and sindry the kingis liegis,

•^ '* of the clannis and surnaimis of Armstrang
and Talyoiir, and all thair kynnismcn, freindis, and scr-
vandis and utheris depcndand upon thaim," to endure
for one year. (Reg. Sec. Sig., vol. v, f 99b.)

It appears clear that a number of the Scottish Bor-
derers had some secret understanding with Lord Dacre
at this period, and it is improbable that the Armstrongs
availed themselves of the respite which was offered by
the Duke of Albany. Certainly we find in a letter from
Dacre to Wolsey, of about June 21st, 1517, the follow-
ing suggestive passage : ** As for the Armstrongs and oder
evill disposed personnes, their adherents, the king's high-
ness shall not be charged with none assistance for them,
but only myself." *'I have secrete messages from th'
Earl of Angus and oder . . . ."

At this time the shameful system of fostering the in-
ternal commotions of the country by bribery and other
means was commenced by Dacre, continued by Sadler,
and brought to perfection by Burleigh, during the reign
of Elizabeth. (Tytler.)

During the early portion of 151 8-19 the Armstrongs

and their adherents were exceedingly troublesome.

P On 1 2th March the regent and council direct-

•^ ' ed that proclamation should be made at the

122 €f^vonit\t0 of tfje %vm0ttonsff

market crosses of Jedburgh and Selkirk, forbidding the
inhabitants to furnish "the thevis and traitouris of Lid-
desdale, with ony mancr of vittales, undir the pane of
tynsale of lif, landis and gudis." (Act. Dom. Cor.,
manuscript, vol. xxxii, f 124.)

The Bishop of Moray and the prior of St. Andrew's,
two of the tutors of Patrick, third carl of Bothwell,
appeared before the council and made the following
statement: "The Maister Halys, falyeand of ane barne,
now beand in the partis of France, was thair cheif, and
that all the hale cuntre of Liddisdale was inemyis to
him, and als that ane part of Tevidale was nocht sickir
[sure] to him, the quhilk was ane grete mater to thame,
and thairefor desirit ane terme to be avisit in the said
mater, considering it tuichit thame sa neire. And als
that the Lord Hay of Yestir had schewin that he traistit
and the lordis walde deliver to him Arche Armistrang,
now beand in Edinburgh castell, that he sulde gett the
men of Peblis taken be the Liddisdale men to fredome,
and als to get plegis of the Armistrangis for gud reule
to be kepit in tyme to cum, and failyeande therof, that
he suld deliver the said Arche again."

We are unfortunately ignorant as to the decision of
the council, but there being no mention of Liddesdale
for the succeeding two years, either in the manuscript
letters in London or in the Scottish records, it may
with much probability be concluded that the country
was at this period reduced to a'state of comparative quiet.

Patrick, third earl of Bothwell, who succeeded to
the earldom and to the lordship of Liddesdale in 151 3,
was, during 1518, still a minor under the direction of

€I)e t^oufft of £i^aingertoun 123

Patrick, master of Hailes, Patrick, prior of Saint An-
drews, and James, bishop of Moray, his tutors. To the
master, the first mentioned of these, as heir-presump-
tive,— he being the second son of Patrick, the first
earl, — the ruling of Liddesdale had naturally been in-
trusted. He had received closed and other letters from
time to time, and also orders to take pledges of the
clans of the district. On the 17th July, 15 18, an in-
teresting letter was despatched by him to the bishop to
inform that prelate of the success of his expedition in
Liddesdale. In this letter he speaks of the Armstrongs
as follows: "As for the Armstrangis thai ar in the De-
batable landis, and agreit with Ingland, and kepis thare
markat daily in Ingland, nochttheles I am laborand and
traistis to gett thare plegis."

On the 19th July, 1518, the master of Hailes was
ordered by the council to do his utmost to get pledges
of the Armstrongs.

On the 1 6th November we again find the bishop
taking his kinsman's part, and stating that the master
could not guide Liddesdale without the "help and sup-
ple of the clannis and hedsmenn of the cuntre," and
"specealy the Armistrangis," and that he desired the
release of Arche Armstrong, then in ward in the castle
of Edinburgh, for whom and for his band he would
enter pledges, which being done he hoped to keep good
rule within Liddesdale. (History of Liddesdale.)

In this year we learn of damage done to the
I C 20. .

■^ * Scots by the Armstrongs under English assur-
ance as follows: "XX Martij. The Armestrongis per
mandatum predictum. The towne of Mynchame of

124 €f)ronifIeitf of tfjc ^CrmieftrongiBf

the larde of Mynchamcs landis brent: Onn slayne and
tenne hurte in peril of dathe, x prisoners, xiiij horse and
naggis, xi oxen and kyen." (Harleian Collection, Brit-
ish Museum, No. 1757.)

At this time, IC22, the Debateable Land, a
•^ * tract of country situated betwixt the Esk and
Sark, claimed by both kingdoms, was divided by royal
commissioners appointed by the two crowns. By their
award this land of contention was separated by a line
drawn from east to west betwixt the rivers.

On the 15th March the council decided on the ap-
pointment of a great noble to the office of warden and
lieutenant of the Middle and East Marches, and thus
endeavor to restore peace to the disturbed district. At
the same time Robert lord Maxwell received his ap-
pointment of warden of the West March. The person
selected for these high offices was Archibald Douglas,
sixth earl of Angus, grandson of Bell-the-Cat, one of
the most prominent men of his time. This nobleman,
although he had undoubtedly many of the qualities
necessary for successful rule, had unfortunately before
this been suspected of an inclination to hold intercourse
with and favor the unruly Borderers, and throughout
the whole period during which he held office, even
when acting in an energetic manner, his proceedings
were looked upon with much distrust. [History of Lid-
desdale. )

In this year the Armstrongs of Liddesdale
I C 24.*

^' and the freebooters of Ewesdale joined the

rebels of Tynedale and came unto them and kept all

company together. And it was therefore prophesied

€bf ^misft of iS^amgertoun 129

that before the year passed there would be many dis-
poils of the king's subjects. (Bulwer and Eure to Wol-
sey. May i6th, 1524, manuscript, Record Office.) In
consequence of which Angus decided to surprise them
and came suddenly upon the most prominent of the
Armstrongs, those who were the greatest maintainers of
the Tynedale folk, and succeeded in capturing twelve
of their number, two being the most important captains
of the chief, Sym the Larde of Whithaugh and Davy
the Lady his brother. Angus burnt many good houses
and marched off with 600 nolt, 3000 sheep, 500 goats,
and many horses. (State Papers of Henry VIII.)

And then, to add to these calamities, the power of
the church was brought to bear upon this unwilling
tribe. The Archbishop of Glasgow supplicated the
agency of all the popular saints of the Border, together
with Saint Michael and the angels, to the execution of
his malediction upon them, but, sad to relate, with no
avail. (State Papers of Henry VIII.)

The Armstrongs who were captured by the earl of
Angus were not kept in prison, however, but were pa-
roled in Edinburgh, having great favors and men attend-
ing them night and day. (State Papers of Henry VIII.)

We further learn, from a letter written by Magnus
the English ambassador to Scotland during October,
that the chancellor and Angus in a manner fell out with
one another, especially because of the non-execution
done upon the Armestrongges taken by him. (State
Papers of Henry VIII.)

During this year we for the first time hear of

•^ •^* Johnie Armstrong, founder of that branch of

126 CtjromclCjBf of tf)C 3Cnti|ftron0itf

the Armstrongs generally known in history as Gilnoc-
kie. He was brother of Thomas, the seventh lord of
Maingertoun, and his name is familiar to almost every
child on the Borderside. Even after the lapse of cen-
turies his memory is cherished by the peasantry of Esk-
dale and the surrounding country. He must have re-
moved from Liddesdale early in the century, when,
close to the Esk at a place called the Hollows, he
erected his stout little castle of Gilnock Hall, still stand-
ing in a fair state of preservation, and which, had he
lived seven years more, he had embellished round about.
He collected a company of adventurous spirits, and,
disdaining to molest his own countrymen, supported a
numerous retinue by protection money levied from the
Border to Newcastle town in Tynedale. Robert, fifth
lord Maxwell, then warden of the West March, granted
him a charter of the lands of Dalbetht, Scheld, Daw-
blane, Stabilgortoun, Langholm, and Tevioteschelis.

Charter by Robert Lord Maxwell, in Favour of John
Armstrong, of Lands in Eskdale, dated 4th August, 1 525.

" Be it kend till all men be thir present lettres me Robert lord
Maxwell, wardane of the West Marchis of Scotland fornentis
Ingland, and haiffand of oure soverane lord the king the landis
and lordschip of Eskdale, for till have tane and ressavit, and
be the tenor of thir present lettres takis and ressavis my lovit
frend, Johne Armistrang, tennent in fre heretaige to the landis
undirwrittin with thair pertinentis, that is to say, the landis of
Dalbetht, the landis of the Scheld, the landis of Dawblane, the
landis of Stabilgortoun, the landis of Langholm, and the landis
of Tevioteschelis, with thare pertinentis, lyand in the lordschip
of l\skdale, within the schircfdom of Drumfres; and als for the
gude and thankfull service done and to be done to me and my

)

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^.\..:u.tiAtaJii^»iM»<i'tM,*m;f\9k\i» I v r«*< ■ tn

€f>e ^mmt of a^aiitumoun 127

aris be the said John Armistrang and his airis, I grantt mc to

have enterit hym to the saidis landis, in fee and heretaige, to be

haldin of me and my aris as Lordis of Ksdale for ever mare,

cfter the form of his infeftment: In witnes of the quhilk thing

to this my letter of entres, subscrivit with my hand, my sele is

hungin, at Drumfres, the ferd day of August, the yere of God

j°v' and XXV yeris, before thir witnes, John, Abbot of Dun-

dranan, Schir Herbert M'^Brare, cheplane, Herbert Giedstanis,

Andro Herys, and James Andersen, with divers utheris.

Robert L. Maxwell"
(From the Book of Carlaverock.)

The following is a bond granted from John Arm-
strong to Robert lord Maxwell, Scottish warden of the
West Marches of Scotland.

Bond of Manrent from John Armstrong to Robert
Lord Maxwell, dated 2d November, 1525.

" Be it kend till all men be thir present lettres me Johne Arm-
strang for to [be] bound and oblist, and be the tenour of thir
present lettres, and faith and treuth in my body, lelie and treulie
bindis and oblissis me and myne airis to ane noble and michtie
lord, Robert lord Maxwell, wardane of the West Marchis of
Scotland, etc., that forsamekle as my said lord hais gevin and
grantit to me and myne airis perpetualie the nonentres of all
and hale the landis undirwrittin, that is to say, the landis of
Dalbetht, Scheild, Dalblane, Stapilgortoun, Langholme, and
Crwsnovte, with thair pertinentis, lyand in the lordschip of
Eskdale, as his gift maid to me thairuppon beris in the self, and
that for all the tyme of the nonentres of the samyn, heirfor I,
the said Johne Armistrang, bindis and oblissis me and myne
airis, in manrent and service to the said Robert lord Maxwell
and his airis for evir mare, first and before all utheris, myne
allegiance to our soverane lord the King allanerly except; and
to be trewe, gude and lele servantis to my said lord, and be
redy to do hym service, baith in pece and in weir, with all my

128 €t)ronicIejet of tf^t %tm^ttmiQ0

kyn, frendls and servantis that I may and dowe to rais and be,
and to my said lordis airis, for cvir mare, and sail talc his trewe
and plane part in all maner of actions at myne utir power, and
sail nouthir wit, heir, nor se oure said lordis skaith, lak nor
dishonestie, bot we sail stop and lett the samyn, and geif we
doue nocht lett the samyn we sail warne hym thairof in all pos-
sible haist, and geif it happinnis me, the said Johne Armistrang,
or myne airis, to faile in our said service and manrent any
maner of way to oure said lord, as God forbeid we do, than,
and in that cais the gift and nonentres maid be hym to ws of
the saidis landis of Dalbetht, Scheild, Dalblane, Stapilgortoun,
Langholme, and Crwsnowte, with the pertinentis, to be of non
avale, force, nor effect, bot the said lord and his airis to have
fre regres and ingres to the nonentres of the samyn, but ony
pley or impediment, to the keping and fulfilling of all and sin-
dry the premisis in form abone writtin, I bind and obliss me,
and my airis forsaidis, to the said lord and his airis for evermare,
be the faithtis and trewthis in our bodeis, but fraude or gile: In
witnes of the quhilk thing to thir lettres of manrent, subscrivit
with my hand at the pen, my sele is hungin, at Drumfres, the
secund day of November, the yeir of God j'"v"'xxv yeris.

John Armistrang, with my hand at the pen."

(From the Book of Carlaverock.)

SEAL AT CARLAVEROCK.

€I)e l^oujefe of ^St^amgertoun 120

Mr. Thomas Carlyle of Waterbeck having received
what he believed to be reliable information, wrote as
follows: "At the same time and place," (Dumfries, 3d
November, 1525,) "Christy, son of Johnie Armstrong,
got a grant of a ten pound land in Eskdale, and granted
a bond of manrent to Lord Maxwell." (Pamphlet on
the Debateable Land.)

^ On the 1 6th February, 1526, Lord Maxwell,

•^ * as lord of Eskdale, made a gift of the lands
of Mylgill and Eriswod, with the pertinents, lying in
the lordship of Eskdale, for all the time of the non-
entries of the same to John Armestrang and his heirs.
(Original at Everingham — Maxwell Monuments,
Printed Inventory.)

About this time Magnus writes to the Earl of Cum-
berland, warden of the English West March : " My
lorde, to medle with Scottelande, and speceally with
suche as the Armestronggs ar, and other like wilde and
mysguyded menn, ye may not at all tymes use your
swoorde, power, and playn dealing, but ye muste
mesure the same with wise practises and poletike intel-
ligence, to be had amongge thaym, shewing your self
straunge at some tyme to agree and consent to causes,
whenne ye wolde the same shulde take effecte, myche
moor thenne woulde the other party. Ther ar many in
that contrey, some I knowe, that canne practise suche
matters." (Caligula, B. iii, f. 115.)

On March 14th, 1526, the Duke of Richmond de-
manded redress from the Scottish king for injuries com-
mitted in England by the Armestrongis, Neksons, El-
waldes, and Croseers. (State Papers of Henry VIIL)
9

130 4^nnic\tfi of tf^t ^rmi^trongitf

James V summoned his council before him and direct-
ed Angus, the chancellor, to pass upon the said broken
men in Easter and obtain redress. On the 26th March
we find the Duke of Richmond's council making the
startling statement that "the inhabitaunts of Liddersdale
denyed and were not reducible to bee ordred according
to the due ordre of justice and treatie takene betwene
the said twoo realmes." (Richmond's council to Wol-
sey, manuscript, Record Office.) It was therefore neces-
sary for Angus to make some extraordinary effort to
bring the Liddesdale folk to subjection. Accordingly
he proceeded to this district with some success, falling
unawares upon those who lived in huts; twelve of them
he hanged to a bridge, twelve more he kept as hostages;
in a few months after he put even these to death.
None appear to have been Armstrongs. (Buchanan.)
On May 13th, 1526, Sir William Eure, vice-warden
on the English side, complained in his report that cer-
tain persons named Charleton and Dod of Tynedale
and Riddesdale fled to Liddesdale, were received by the
Armstrongs, and frequently entered England and carried
off prisoners as in times of war. It was also hinted that
there was slight hope of obtaining satisfaction from
Angus for ofl^ences done by the surnames of Arme-
strongs, Elwolds, Croosyers, and Nixsounes, dwelling in
Liddesdale. (Sir William Eure to Wolsey. Caligula,
B. vi, f 409.) Notwithstanding these suspicions the
conduct of Angus met with the entire approval of the
estates. (Act. Pari. Scot., vol. ii, p. 307b.)

The severe measures resorted to by Angus
•^ ' * had little effect upon the inhabitants of Lid-

€f^t 1$nu^t of ^aingrrtoun 131

dcsdalc, and the government decided, May 20th, 1527,
on a further effort to bring them to subjection. This
expedition proved more satisfactory than that under-
taken during the spring. The king, who accompanied
Angus, was attended by 6000 men, and the Armstrongs,
who by this time had become opulent by frequent raids
into England, gave pledges for their peaceable be-
havior. (Pinkerton.)

On June 21st, 1527, the Earl of Cumberland, war-
den of the West Marches, complained that the Arm-
strongs had run day foray and were receiving the Nic-
sons who were English. On July 4th an answer was
forwarded from Edinburgh, in which it was proposed
by the council that the wardens of both countries
should take the wives and bairnies of the Armstrongs
and ship them to Ireland or to other parts whence they
might never return. The earl was also requested not
to receive the Borderers, and especially the Armstrongs,
in England. That nobleman must have been fully
alive to the difficulty of this proposal. (Cottonian
manuscripts. Caligula, B. iii, f. 173.)

The time had now returned when no one durst
strive with a Douglas or his followers. Archibald,
sixth earl of Angus, used the outward pageant of con-
ducting the king around the country for punishing
thieves and traitors, yet none were found greater than
in his own company. In a progress to the Border for
repressing the Armstrongs his sovereign gave such signs
of dissatisfaction as excited the laird of Buccleuch to at-
tempt a rescue. (Pitscottie.)

In the "gray of the morning" Buccleuch, at the

132 C^rdtiicleitf of tfje %vmtitttmg0

head of 600 spear from Liddesdale and Eskdale, with a
lurking desire for reconciliation, and his own band of
300, were discovered "hanging like a thunder-cloud"
upon the neighboring hill of Haliden. A herald was
sent to demand his purpose, and to charge him to retire.
He answered that he came to show the clans to the
king, according to the custom of the Borders; and that
he knew the king's mind better than Angus. "Sir,"
said Angus, "I vow to God, they shall either fight or
riee." The encounter was fierce and prolonged until
Cessford, a powerful Border chief and supporter of
Angus, fell by the lance of Elliot of Stobs. His death,
with those of Buccleuch's friends, numbered eighty and
caused many deadly feuds. [Minstrelsy of the Scottish
Border. )

On July 4th, 1527, Magnus, the English resident at
Edinburgh, wrote that he thought the Lisles of North-
umberland were negotiating with the Armstrongs to do
harm in England. (Magnus to Wolsey, July 4th,
1527.) About this time they invaded Hexhamshire in
Northumberland. The inhabitants rose against them
and succeeded in killing some and making prisoners of
others. The Armstrongs captured were closely warded
in Newcastle-on-Tyne by Sir William Eure and were
the sons of the headmen of the clan. The Earl of
Angus wrote to Eure in their favor. (Magnus to Wol-
sey, July 4th, 1527, manuscript. Record Office.)

During the time the Armstrongs and the English
outlaws were in ward in the castle of Newcastle, Sir
William Lisle, knight, Humphrey, his son, and Will
Shafleho (a Charleton) were also in ward in the same

€l)e ^<m^t of d^aingrrtoun 133

town, on account of charges which had been brought
against them by Sir William Ellarcar, sheriff of North-
umberland, but it does not appear that they were in jail
or under any close restraint. Certain Borderers being
desirous of the release of the Armstrongs opened a cor-
respondence with the Lisles. The person employed for
this purpose was John Armstrong of Whithaugh, who
carried letters to and from Sir William Lisle, and when
all arrangements were completed conducted a number
of his kinsmen to Newcastle, where they joined the
Lisles. The party, now numbering about forty persons,
entered the town and compelled the keeper of the high
castle to deliver his keys, with which they opened the
prison and released nine prisoners, both Scots and Eng-
lish. The Lisles, with the other English outlaws, then
retired with the Armstrongs to Scotland. (History of
Liddesdale. )

Henry VIII of England accordingly wrote to Angus
on the 7th of August and desired that search should be
made for the Lisles, and that when captured they
should be handed over to his officers. King James,
hearing of this, called Angus and Maxwell before him
and accused them **richt asperlie," and expressed his
surprise that they had suffered "resset, ayde, or suple to
be gevin to the transgressouris " of England, contrary to
the terms of truce taken between the two realms.
(State Papers of Henry VIII.)

The presentiments of Magnus proved but too true.
The Lisles and their adherents entered England and
robbed, burned, and spoiled the town of Holmeshaugh
in Northumberland, belonging to Sir William Ellarcar,

134 Cl^roniclej^ of f^t %tm0tvtmqfi

knight, the same person who had been the cause of the
Lisles' being warded at Newcastle. On 12th August
Richmond wrote to Angus demanding their expulsion
or delivery. In reply Angus stated that they were not
within his bounds or any part of Scotland, but in the
Debateable Land. Sir William Lisle now assumed the
leadership of the outlaws and rebels of Scotland and
England, and he and the others were indicted for high
treason, proclaimed rebels along the English Border,
and large rewards were offered for their apprehension.
Another foray was then made to the lordship of .Wil-
derington, belonging to Sir William Ellarcar, when
forty horses were carried off, and Magnus, in announc-
ing this last attempt, stated that he had heard divers
opinions as to how the danger to be expected from the
Lisles was to be avoided, but without great cost he
could not find any way so likely to succeed as that
which had been discussed by Sir Thomas ClifForde and
himself It was this, that ClifForde's brother, the Earl
of Cumberland, warden of the West March, "had in
his hands [at Carlisle] some of the bedesmen [one being
Christopher of the Side] of the Armesstrongges," and
they were in hopes that the English fugitives would be
handed over to the authorities of England by the Arm-
strongs on condition that their chief was allowed to
return to his own country. [History of Liddesdale.) In
the report of the Historical Manuscript Commissioners,
vol. ii, p. 17, there is a notice of a letter from Thomas
Clifford and John Lowther to the Earl of Cumberland.
"The writers, with Jack Musgrave, fell in with four
Armstrongs, who begged for the safety and life of

mfmmmm

€l^e I^ouj^e of ^aittgmoun 135

Christopher [brother of Anthony] Armstrong, who was
in prison. In return they offered to entice five or six
of the outlaws [who had escaped from Carlisle Castle]
on to English ground, so that they might be taken pris-
oners." [History of Liddesdale.^

While in ward at Newcastle, Simon Armstrong, later
called Sym the Larde of Whithaugh, boasted to the
Earl of Northumberland that he "hymself and hys ad-
herents" had laid waste sixty miles of country and "laide
downe thirty parisshe churches," and that there was
"not oone in the realme of Scotland dar remedy the
same." [History of LiJdesdale.)

Wilderington was again attacked by the Lisles, who
had the support of the Armstrongs, some of whom were
retainers of Angus. King Henry VIII now wrote to
James stating that the Lisles were with the Armstrongs
and if the Scottish warden could not apprehend them
he requested that the English officers might be allowed
to enter Scotland for that purpose. (Henry VIII to
James V, loth September, 1527. Additional manu-
scripts, British Museum, 19,401, No. 3.)

While the Lisles were guests of the Armstrongs in
Liddesdale, John Johnstone of that ilk, John, Andrew,
and Roland Bell, William and Mathew Johnstone were
charged on October 14th, 1527, with the cruel murder
of a boy called Mickle Sym Armstrong. James Doug-
las of Drumlanrig became pledge to enter the accused
persons, who, failing to appear, were denounced rebels,
which, with a subsequent sequestration, accounts for the
Johnstone estates being in ward four years. The Arm-
strongs felt this blow keenly, and throughout the rest of

136 €t^nmtU0 of tt^t ^Cmijtftrongitf

the century, as will be seen, lost no opportunity to ob-
tain revenge. [Historical Families of Dumfriesshire.)

Winter had now set in, at which time the Liddesdale
men were usually most active, and early in January,
1528, the Earl of Northumberland, hearing that cer-
tain friends of the Lisles intended making a raid, sent
Q secretly to Felton and seized fourteen of their

"^ * party, who were tried and executed at Alnwick
on 8th January. Seven of these were of the head sur-
names of the offenders, one of whom was John Arm-
strong of Whithaugh, who had been the means of re-
leasing his clansmen from Newcastle and bringing the
Lisles and others into Liddesdale. [Hist, of Liddesdale.)

On the 21st of January, 1528, Will Shotlynton,
Harry Noble, Archibalde Dodde, and Roger Arme-
strange entered the bishopric of Durham, robbed many
persons in the neighborhood of Woolsingham, and car-
ried the priest of Muggleswick away with them a pris-
oner. On their return homeward, the Tyne being
flooded, they could not pass by any of the fords, and
were therefore compelled to attempt a passage by Hay-
don bridge, on which there was a gate, barred, chained,
and locked against them; and being set upon by the
bailiff of Hexham and the constable of Langley castle
with their followers, they were compelled to abandon
the horses and seek safety on foot. In the conflict which
ensued Shotlynton and Noble were killed, and Arme-
strange and Dodde were taken prisoners and tried at a
warden court held at Alnwick for the purpose on 27th
of January. Armstrange was subsequently hung in chains
near to Newcastle, and Dodde at Alnwick. The bodies

€i)e !^ott|fe of Si^atngrrtoun 137

of Shotlynton (sometimes called a Charleton) and Noble
were also hung in chains, the former at Hexham and the
latter at Hay don bridge. (Hodgson's Northumberland.)

A report was now spread that if Angus did not hand
over the rebels it was the intention of Northumberland
to overrun Liddesdale and burn all the houses; and on
the 26th January Sir William Lisle, Humphrey Lisle,
and others to the number of eighteen persons appeared
before Northumberland in their shirts, with halters
around their necks, and submitted. [Hist, of Liddesdale.)

Sir William, his son Humphrey Lisle, John Ogle,
and Thomas Fenwick were tried for treason and their
lands forfeited, and with the exception of Humphrey,
who was pardoned, they were all hanged, drawn, and
quartered and their remains placed on the castle of
Newcastle and other conspicuous places. (Northumber-
land to Wolsey, 28th January, 1527-28. Caligula, B.
vii, f. 112.)

Nick Lisle was also taken on the 6th of February
and previous to his execution confessed that the rebels
had been supported by Angus, Bothwell, and Maxwell,
who were against their submitting, and that the twelve
who still remained in Scotland were aided by them.
( History of Liddesdale. )

John of Gilnockie, Thomas the lord of Maingertoun,
Simon the Larde of Whithaugh, Hector of Ailmure,
later called "with the Griefs and Cuts of Harelaw,"
and Ninian of Raltoun, all Armstrongs, now established
themselves in Eskdale, that romantic and most doubtful
part of the Debateable Land, where they, for their pro-
tection, built strong towers. Lord Dacre, earl of Cum-

138 Cbronicltjtf of tf)e %vmfittimsiS

berland, determined to drive them back to Liddesdale,
and early in February with a force of two thousand
men marched suddenly upon them. News of the in-
tended raid had been conveyed to John and Simon,
who succeeded in defeating the English warden and his
numerous force. Lord Dacre's principal exploit was an
attack upon Gilnockie's castle, into which he made a
large aperture with his six pieces of artillery, traces of
which are visible to this day, whilst Gilnockie, with
his friends and kinsmen, swiftly and secretly repaired to
Cumberland and burned Netherby to the ground.
(Calendar of Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic,
Henry VIIL)

Christopher, the brother of John Armstrong of Gil-
nockie, is said to have built about this time the forta-
lice of Langholm, sometimes called Langhope, before
which, as mentioned in the ballad of "Johnie Arm-
strang's Last Good-night," they ran their horse and
broke their spears in tournaments. This Christopher,
by descending generations, was often confused with
Christopher son of Gilnockie, called Kirsty, who came
later into possession of this stronghold. Langholm was
a place of importance, being situated at the junction of
the Ewes and Wauchope with the Esk river, command-
ing three passes. Part of its ruins may still be seen.
Its tower was 56 feet north to south and more than 30
feet from east to west, with Walls 5 feet 5 inches thick.
[Account of the Parish of Langholm.)

An officer, called captain, was specially appointed to
take charge of the fortress of Langholm. Both John
and his son Christopher of Barngleish held this appoint-

die ^tm^t of ^^aittgertoun 130

mcnt. At this time the Armstrongs with their adhe-
rents numbered three thousand horsemen. (History of
Liddesdale^j

While these transactions, by which the fate of Scot-
land was influenced, were passing upon the Border,
Lord Maxwell seems to have exercised a most uncon-
trolled domination in Eskdale. There is little doubt
but that he encouraged the Armstrongs to resist the
English warden. Lord Dacre demanded redress for the
burning of Netherby and the destruction of a mill be-
longing to him in Gillisland. Maxwell on his side
gave in a bill for the burning of the Hollows, Gil-
nockie's castle, which he said was in the lordship of
Eskdale. Dacre denied this, but acknowledged the
burning, declaring that as the Hollows formed part of
the Debateable Land it had been legally done and no-
wise contrary to truce. The English refusing redress,
the Scotch on their side declined to make restitution
for the destruction of Netherby. (Dacre to Wolsey,
1527-28. Caligula, B. viii, Nos. 102 and 104.)

On March 27 Lord Dacre held a warden court at
Carlisle, when Richie, the eldest of the eight sons of
Lang Will the Grame of Stuble, and married to an
Armstrong, was accused of betraying that nobleman
when he invaded the Debateable Land. Richie was
indicted for treason, handed over to the sheriff, and
lodged in Carlisle Castle. He soon effected his escape
and fled to Eskdale, where he was joined by his father,
brothers, and thirty retainers, who were then, as well
as the Armstrongs, maintained by Lord Maxwell the
warden. Richie, however, soon proved his innocence

UO €f^xomt\t^ of tf)c ^CrmjB^trongjBr

of the accusation to Lord Dacre. (State Papers of
Henry VIII, vol. iv. Caligula, B. x.)

Soon after this Dacre again invaded the Debateable
Land and destroyed a strong peel belonging to 111 Will
Armistraunges, which was built in such a manner "that
it couth not be brynt ne distroyed unto it was cut
downe with axes." Ill Will had a son called Sandye
of the Chingils, who was father of Will o' Kinmont.
(Francis James Child.)

Dacre writes to Cardinal Wolsey about this time that
"The Lord Maxwell caused the Armstrongs to make a
raid upon the Lord of Johnstone, his own sister's son,
who is at deadly feud with them for the killing of
Mickle Sym Armstrong, where they [the Armstrongs]
killed three of his friends and the Lord Maxwell him-
self lay in abushment to maintain them, purposely to
have killed the said Lord Johnstone if he had pursued
them." [Hist. Families of Dumfriesshire. See October
14th, 1527.)

Angus, hearing of the refusal of Maxwell to allow
the letters against the Armstrongs to be put in execu-
tion within his wardenry, marched again to the Border
with the intention of making a raid against them and
putting the letters in execution. (State Papers of
Henry VIII, vol. iv, p. 492.) We hear of his presence
at Jedburgh about 2d of April, but we have no further
account of his movements. [History of Liddesdale.)

And now, April 23d, 1528, Alexander of the Chin-
gils, with Heby Armstrong, the Irwens, and Clement
Nykson, headed a series of revengeful forays, too
numerous to describe, into England. They slew many

€f)c i^ouiBfe of Q^aingcrtoun 141

persons, destroyed many houses, and drove hence much
cattle, but worst of all was the burning of Lang Will
Grame's home and the killing of Will Foster. We can
only surmise the cause of this feud, for the Grahms had
been staunch friends of the Armstrongs. (MS. Record
Office, London, calendared June, 1528, No. 4420.)

The following strange charges brought against Dacre
probably belong to this period. He was accused of
having taken such order with the Armstrongs and their
adherents, great thieves and murderers, who numbered
upwards of three hundred men, that if any robbery or
felony happened to be committed by them within the
West March redress was made without other punish-
ment, and for offences done by them in other places
they remained unpunished. Further, that Dacre had
given license to the same Armstrongs to resort weekly
to Carlisle market without hindrance. To these charges
the warden replied, firstly, that during the continuance
of the war the Armstrongs had made no restitution, but
in times of peace they had redressed injuries committed
within the West March as other Scottish subjects had
done; but with regard to the East and Middle Marches,
the warden of the Middle March of Scotland had been
called on to answer for the said Armstrongs, but redress
could not be had of the said warden; secondly, the
license the Armstrongs had from him to repair to Car-
lisle was extended to them, as to many other Scottish
subjects, on his authority as warden. (Hodgson's North-
umberland. In record of July 17th, 1518, it has been
stated that the Armstrongs were licensed and agreed with
England, and kept their market daily with England.)

142 C!)ronicIeie( of tf)e %tn\tittonsff

Soon after this the king, emancipated from the iron
tutelage of Angus, made the first use of his authority
by banishing from the kingdom his late lieutenant and
the whole race of Douglas. This command was not
enforced without difficulty, for the power of Angus was
strongly rooted in the east Border, where he possessed
the castle of Tantallon and the hearts of the Homes
and the Kerrs. The pertinacious opposition of Angus
to his doom angered to the extreme the fiery temper of
James, and he swore in his wrath that a Douglas should
never serve him, an oath which he kept in circum-
stances under which the spirit of chivalry which he
worshipped should have taught him other feelings.
The earl was afterward a willing agent of the English
government. [Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.)

On July 14th Bothwell appeared before the king and
the lords, and took upon him the rule of Liddesdale
and to answer for any unlawful attempts made within
the lordship. The king and the lords at the same time
ordained the persons dwelling within Liddesdale to be
as free in market and church as other lieges of the
realm. (Act. Dom. Con. MS., vol. xxxviii, ff. 131b,

132.)

We have already noticed the charge brought against

the earl of Cumberland of permitting the Armstrongs
to frequent Carlisle Market. For some reason, perhaps
well known to themselves, they claimed a right from
medieval times to sport, hunt, and market in Cumber-
land. According to the earl's own statement the two
former customs had never been relinquished. No en-
joyments were more frankly claimed or openly exer-

€I|e ^on^t of O^amgertoun U3

ciscd than were these by them. (Sec 151 8, 1598.)
Wolsey now ordered the English warden to withdraw
the privileges. This annoyance, following Dacre's in-
considerate attempt to expel them from the Debateable
Land, angered the Armstrongs and their kinsmen be-
yond all bounds of reason, and notwithstanding the
King of Scotland's presence upon the Border they de-
termined to obtain revenge. Accordingly this surname,
with the Elwalds, Nyksons, and Crosers, to the number
of three hundred, entered Cumberland at night and by
a ruse of war. deceived the warden into ordering his
retinue to pursue them, when they captured nineteen
of his servants, ten of his tenants, and slew eleven mem-
bers of his household, the details of which are given,
August 4th, 1528, in a letter from Dacre to Wolsey.
(Cottonian MSS. Caligula, B. ii, f 198; calendared
1526 incorrectly.)

Pleas it your grace to be advertised, that sens my laste letters
sent unto your grace, certein Scottis men, as Elwaldes, Nyk-
sons, Crosers, with other their adherentis, Liddisdale men, to
the number of xxx personnes, upon Thuresdaye at night last,
cam into this realme by Beawcastell, and Thirlwall in North-
umbrlaund, iij myles above my hous, and ther tooke one John
Bell, a tenant of myne, and certein of his cattell, and soo
thaffray roose: And I caused my householde servantis to goo
furth with the countrey. And when, as my said servantis com
to Beawcastell, the said Scottismen was paste by Beawcastell
homewardes, the same waye thay cam a felde, my said servantis
and the countrey, seing that [thay] made the greter haiste for
to have bene in their highewaye or thay came to Kirssop
[Kershope], or thaye departed out of Englaund. And soo a
myle a thys side of Kirssop, not passing two myles and half

144 €f^xonit\t0 of t^t %xm0ttons0

from Beawcastcll, my said household servntis gat as far furth as
the Scottis men: And as thaye shulde have sett upon theim,
trusting to theim that thaye had bene no moo ; notwithstand-
ing, thay had abushement lieing at the same place, of their
kynne and freindes, of the Mlwaldes, Nyksons, Armistrangis,
and Crosers, to the nombr of ccc personnes, as well on hors as
foote: And unbekcst about my said servantis, and suche of the
countrey as was with theim, and ther tooke xl personnes,
whereof XXX of theim was of my housholde servantis. And
after thay were taken and their swordes and wepins givin frome
theim, and holdin, thay cruelly and shamfully murdered and
slewe xj of my said householde servantis, and the residue tooke,
like as your grace may percieve by a cedull herein inclosed who
was slaine and who was taken.

Fleas it your grace also that seing this cruell murdour and
shamfull slaughter is done upon my servantis in following of
their laufull trodde, according to the article of the trux takin
betwixt thes two realmes, the like therof haith not bene sene, it
woll pleas your grace that I maye knowe the kingis highnes
pleasour, and your gracis, howe I shall ordur me in this behalve,
considring as I staund the kingis wardein, and maye nothing do
to the violation or breche of the treux. The said slaughter is
done unto me bicause that I woll neithr suffer the said Armi-
stranges, Nyksons and Crosers to inhabit upon the Debatable
grounde, or yet suffer theim or any Scottisman of evill name or
fame to com to Carlisle market, or have any recurs within
myne office of wardenry, according to your gracis instructions
and commaundment to me gevin.

Fleas it also your grace, when as my said servant and coun-
trey cam by Beawcastell, ther cam never one furth of the said
castell, neithr to ryde or assiste my said servantis, nor yet skure
the feilde or geve warnyng of ther incomying or outgoing:
And in lyke maner where as I had a servant remaignyng in
Carlisle, for to warne and bring furthe the cuntrey to any
affraye or skymmege, my said servant gave warnyng unto the

€J>e f^im^t of a^aingertoun 145

soldeours of the Castell of Carlisle to com forwardcs, who wold
not in no wise com flirth, to the grete discomforth of the coun-
trey, considring as thaye have the Icingis waigis, and haith bene
accustomed alway to com to eny affray or skrymcge : And the
blisscd Trinitie preserve your good grace. At my poore hous
of Narwarde the iij day of Auguste. Yours with humble servce.

WiLLM DaCRE."

Commissioners were at length appointed by King
Henry VIII to endeavor to obtain redress for complaints
against the Borderers and particularly for the offences
against the servants of Lord Dacre, but they found that
with one or two exceptions, committed by the same
persons, the attempts with which the English were
charged were as great as those perpetrated by the sub-
jects of Scotland. (History of Liddesdale.)

The English commissioners met again, on November
8th, 1528, the representatives of Scotland, when the
latter stated that they could not answer for the Arm-
strongs. England then denied Scotland the three years*
peace which the latter was very desirous of obtaining,
but offered to enter into some such treaty as would per-
mit her to pursue the Armstrongs into Scotland without
breaking the peace. The Scottish commissioners con-
sidered this request reasonable, but could not give a
convenient answer without further knowledge of their
prince's pleasure. (State Papers of Henry VIII.)

As proud as was James the Fifth, he accepted this
humiliation, and on December 12th, 1528, it was
agreed that the King of England, in case the excesses
of the Liddesdale freebooters were not duly redressed,
should be at liberty to issue letters of reprisal to his

U6 €i)ronicIejer of tt^t ^rmiertrongj^

inured subjects, "granting" power to invade the said
inhabitants of Liddesdale, "to their slaughter, burning,
herships, reifing, despoiling, and destruction, and go to
continue the same at his grace's pleasure." This of
course tended to loosen more than ever the ties which
bound the Liddesdale folk to Scotland. (Rymer.)

Soon after these events Qiiyntyn, son of Sym the
Larde of Whithaugh, was taken prisoner by the English.
Sym requested Sir Rauf Fenwick of Tynedale to ar-
range a meeting consisting of the Earl of Northumber-
land, his council, and themselves. He was accordingly
conducted to Alnwick Castle, where he met the Eng-
lish warden, together with Tempest and others of his
council. In the ensuing letter from Henry earl of
Northumberland to Brian Tuke, dated December 20th,
1528, is an interesting account of the Borderer's opin-
ion of government and justice in Scotland during James
the Fifth's time, and another of the earl's estimate of
the Armstrongs. (MS. Record Office.)

To the right worshipfull and my singulir goode frend Mastir
Bryan Tuke, Treaserer of the Kinges Most Honourable
Chambre,

" Master Treasourer, In my heartiest manner I recom-
mend me unto you, with lyke thankes for your manyfolde kynd-
nes shewed unto me, with your paynes taken in my poore causes ;
slgnyfying unto you that nowe uppon the takyng of Quyntyn
Armestrange, ande the havyng of hym in durance, Sym Arme-
strange, otherwise called Sym the larde, cam to Sir Rauff Fen-
wik, my deputie of Tyndale, ande desired hym to bryng hym
that he might speke with me or my counsaill for reformacon of
justice: Ande the said Sir Rauff brought hym to my castell of

€i)e f^ou^t of iSt^aingertoun U7

Alncwik, who by thadvice of my cousin Tempest and other of
my Counsaill, they and I had longe communication with hym :
Ande after the moost rigorous facion I handeled hym in wordes
for hys demerites contrery the lawes of God, ande hys dutie of
alegiaunce unto hys soverain lorde ; unto whiche he awnswered,
that he thought in hys tyme nevir to se kyng in Scotland, nor
that realme to be kepit with justice, without the kyng, our
soverain lorde, hade the governaunce thereof; for their kyng
was all set uppon vicousnes, ande hys counsaill that were about
hym was of no stabilite; Ande that hys commyng was oonly to
mynystre justice, and to have justice out of England; for in
the realme of Scotland he wold nevir looke to have justice
kepit, seying, that hymself ande hys adherentes have endway
laid waiste in the saide realme Ix myles, ande laide downe xxx*°
parisshe churches; and that there is not oone in the realme of
Scotland dar remedy the same ; Ande whatsoevr the commis-
sioners of Scotland shuld conclude at this diet on their parte
anenst Lyddersdaill, their shuld not oon article be performed.
The whiche sainges I send unto the commissioners of England
to shewe theme of Scotland ; and so, as I percey ve by their
letters sent unto me, that they have not oonly concluded a
peace, but also put in articles that they woll ron uppon Lyd-
dersdaill and distroie theym ; the whiche ponderyng the great
devision among therselfes ande the great power of the Arme-
stranges with ther adherentes, whiche ys above iij thousand
horssemen, it ys but a braigg, ande no thing lykely to take any
effect. Neverthelesse, affore the conclusion of peace, by thad-
vice of my counsaill, I caused Sym to make suche articles as he
wold be bounden unto; the whiche articles I send unto you
herwith, praying you, goode Mr. Treasourer, to shew my
lordes grace the same, ande that in convenyent haste I may
have knowlege of hys gracious pleasour agayn : Ande bycaus I
hadd no more matir but this, ande that lately I have bene so
sick of myn olde disease, that rathir I had extemyd to dye than
lyeff, for I wass so fer forth that I had all the rightes of the

148 €t^ttmit\t0 of tf)e SCmtitftcongjBi

Churche, I doo not at thys tyme trouble his grace with my
rude letters, praying you, good Maister Tulce, to be myn ex-
cuse herin. Ande thus hartly, fair ye wele. — At my Maner
of Topclyf, the xx'° day of Decembre.

Yours assuryd,
[Subscribed] H. Northumberland."

At this period James V was much incensed against
Angus and the house of Douglas, from whose power
he had so recently escaped, and we find him accusing
that nobleman, then a guest of the English king, of
having maintained the thieves and broken men, and
cherished them to such an extent that they had not only
laid waste a great portion of his realm, but increased in
such number, and gathered together such riches by
their robberies, that they would not easily be destroyed.
We find as late as 13th February, 1529, that

■^ ^* Magnus, who was then at Berwick, had re-
presented to James that "the Armestrongges of Lidders-
daill had reapoorted presumptuously that thay woode
not be ordoured, naither by the king of Scottes, thair
soveraine lorde, nor by the king of Einglande, but after
suche maner as thaire faders had used afore thayme."
And further, that "the said Armestrongges had avaunted
thaymselves to be the destruction of twoe and fifty
parisshe churches in Scotteland," (Sym the Larde said
thirty-two,) "beside the unlawfull and ungracious at-
temptates by thaym committed withynne Einglande."
James laid the blame upon Angus, who he asserted had
granted many remissions and pardons to ofi^enders, and
then bound "them to doe unto hym service whenne he
shulde call upon thaym." [History of Liddesdale.)

€{)e f^mi^t of 0^antgmoun 149

But nevertheless there did come a short period of
peace in Liddesdale which lasted almost a year, only to
be broken on November 19th, 1529, when upwards of
one hundred of the inhabitants of Liddesdale entered
Northumberland and drove home all the cattle from a
place called Byrkshaws; they also captured nineteen
persons whom they carried off to Liddesdale. Four
servants of the English warden were taken at the same
time and cruelly murdered. Northumberland reported
the matter to James, stating that he had difficulty in
keeping his people from seeking revenge. (State Papers
of Henry VIIL)

On 20th of March, 1530, Bothwell appeared before
the king and council, and again took upon him the rule
of Liddesdale. On the same day James, earl of Mur-
ray, accepted the office of lieutenant over the

■^ *^ * three wardenries, but protested that, as Both-
well had undertaken to answer for Liddesdale both to
England and Scotland, he should not be bound to an-
swer for any crimes the inhabitants of that lordship
might commit. It may be concluded that Murray
acted with some energy, as William Cokburne of Hen-
derland and Adam Scot of Tuschelaw were apprehend-
ed, brought to Edinburgh, and beheaded.

The king now decided on taking the pacifying of
the country into his own hands, and his first act showed
how little confidence he had in the frequent promises
he had received from the lords and barons of the South,
for by his directions Bothwell, Howe, Maxwell, John-
ston, Buccleuch, Drumlangrig, Wamfray, Mark Ker of
Dolphinstoune, John Home of Coldouneknowis, a son

150 <ri)ronicIejtf of tf)e SHrmjeftrongjtf

of Fcrnyhirst, and a son of Hcnncrland were all placed
in ward. On 19th of May a meeting of the council
took place, which was remarkable for the number of
members present, none of whom, with the exception of
the provost of Lincluden, were connected with the Bor-
der. At this meeting it was arranged that the king,
accompanied by the true barons and lieges, should ride
"in propir persoun endlangis his bordouris," for the
punishment of malefactors and the pacifying of the
country. ,

At the latter end of June, or the commencement of
July, the expedition set out for the Border, and arrived
at Carlanrig in Teviotdale on the 5th of June. Not
far from thence, says Buchanan, who was a contempo-
rary, "lived one John Armstrong, chief of one faction
of the thieves, who had struck such fear into all the
neighbouring parts, that even the English themselves, for
many miles about, brought their peace by paying him
a certain tribute. Nay, Maxwell was also afraid of his
power, and therefore endeavoured his destruction by all
possible ways. This John was enticed by the king's
officers to have recourse to the king, which he did un-
armed, with about fifty horse in his company, but ne-
glecting to obtain the king's pass and safe conduct for
his security, he fell into an ambush, who brought him to
the king, as if he had been taken prisoner by them, so
that he and most of his followers had the fate of being
hanged. They who were the cause of his death gave
out that he had promised to bring that part of Scotland,
for some miles, under the obedience of the English, if
he himself might be well considered for that service.

€^e 1$ou^e of iSt^ahtgertoun 151

But, on the other side, the English were very glad of
his death, for it freed them from a dangerous enemy."
(Buchanan's History of Scotland.)

Another historian gives the following account of the
capture and execution of the Armstrongs: "On the
eight of June the princepalls of all the surnames of the
clannes of the borders came to the king upon hope of
a proclamation procleamed in the king's name that they
sould all get thair lyves, if they wold cum in and sub-
mit themselves in the king's,will, and so opon this hope
Jhone Armestrang, who keipit the castell of Langhame
(a brother of the laird of Mangerton's, a great theifF
and oppressour, and one that keiped still with him
four and twenty well horsed men), came into the king,
and another called 111 Will Armstrang, another stark
theiff with sundrie of the Scots and Elletts, came all
forward to the campe where the king was, in hope to
get their pardones. But no sooner did the king per-
save them, and that they were cum afarre afF, when
direction was given presentlie to enclose them rownd
about, the which was done accordinglie, and were all
apprehendit to the number of threttie-fyve persones,
and at a place called Carlaveroke [Caerlanrig] Cheapell,
were all committed to the gallowes." (Anderson's
History, MS. Adv. Lib.)

The most interesting and picturesque of all accounts
by the sixteenth century historians of this noted raid is
as follows: "Efter this hunting the king hanged Johne
Armstrange, laird of Kilnokie, quhilk monie Scottis man
heavilie lamented, for he was ane doubtit man, and als
guid ane chiftane as evir was upoun the borderis aither

152 €I)romcIeiet of t^e %vm0ttons^

of Scotland or England. And albeit he was ane lous
leivand man, and sustained the number of xxiiij weill-
horsed able gentilmen with him, yitt he nevir molested
any Scottis man. But it is said, from the Scottis border
to Newcastle of Ingland, thair was not ane of quhatso-
evir estate bot payed to this John Armstrange ane tribut
to be frie of his cumber, he was so doubtit in Ingland.
So when he entred in befoir the king he cam verrie
reverentlie, with his forsaid number verrie richlie appar-
elled, trusting that in respect he had cum to the kingis
grace willinglie and voluntarlie, not being tain nor ap-
prehendit be the king, he sould obtain the mair favour.
Bot when the king saw him and his men so gorgeous
in thair apparrell, and so many braw men under ane
tirrantis commandement throwardlie he turned about
his face, and bad tak that tirrant out of his sight, saying
•Quhat wantis yon knave that a king sould have?' But
when Johne Armestrange perceaved that the king
kindled in ane furie againes him, and had no hope of
his lyff, notwithstanding of many great and fair offerris,
quhilk he offered to the king, that is, that he should
sustene himself with fourtie gentlemen, ever readie to
awaitt upoun his majestie's service, and nevir to tak a
pennie of Scotland, nor Scottis man. Secondlie, that
thair was not ane subject in Ingland, duik, earle, lord,
or barroun, bot within ane certaine day he sould bring
ony of thame to his majestie, aither quick or dead. He
sieing no hope of the kingis favour towardis him, said
verrie proudlie, * I am bot ane fooll to seik grace at ane
graceles face. But had I knawin, sir, that yea would
have takin my lyff this day, I sould have leved upoun

Cl^e l^oitjtfe of ^l^atngertoun 153

the bordcris in disphytc of King Haric and yow baith,
for I know King Haric wold doun weigh my best hors
with gold to knaw that I war condemned to die this
day.' So he was led to the scaffold, and he and all his
men hanged." (Pitscottie's Chronicles.)

Lesley says of the execution of the Armstrongs:
"The king passit to the bordouris with ane great army,
quhair he causet xlviij of the most nobill theivis, with
John Armestrange, thair capitane, be tane, quha being
convict of thift, reiff, slauchter, and treassoun, war all
hangit apoun growand trees." . . . **Yit George Arme-
strange, broder to the saide Johanny, wes pardonit and
reservit levand to tell of the rest, like as he did, quha
within proces of tyme wer apprehendit be the king,
and punest [see February ist, 1548-49] according to
their desertis." (Lesley's History of Scotland.)

John Armstrong of Gilnockie and all his retinue
were accordingly hanged on growing trees, on the lit-
tle sandy plateau where none grow to-day, near the old
chapel of Caerlanrig, now used as a schoolhouse, which
is on the opposite side of the highroad to Langholm,
about ten miles from Hawick. The country people
believed that to manifest the injustice of the execution
the trees withered away. It was said in the last cen-
tury by those living in the vicinity that Johnie and all
his gallant company were buried in the deserted and
forgotten churchyard, whose barrows are now level with
the ground, across the road from the plateau before
mentioned, where the tall and almost leafless fir-trees
are standing. (John Martin, laird of Caerlanrig.)

154 Cfirontclejtf of tf^t ^mijertrongjer

" Where rising Teviot joins the Frostylee
Stands the huge trunk of many a leafless tree.
No verdant woodbine wreaths their age adorn ;
Bare arc the boughs, the gnarled roots uptorn.
Here shone no sunbeam, fell no summer dew.
Nor ever grass beneath the branches grew,
Since that bold chief who Henry's power defied,
True to his country, as a traitor died.
Yon mouldering cairns, by ancient hunters placed
Where blends the meadow with the marshy waste,
Mark where the gallant warriors lie."

(Leydcn's Scenes of Infancy.)

"It is somewhat singular that the circumstances as
they are detailed in the popular ballad or song are sub-
stantially correct, and there cannot now be a doubt that
Armstrong was most basely betrayed and put to death,
even without the mockery of a form of trial." (Pit-
cairn's Criminal Trials.)

There is not in Scotland or England a single known
document recording a trial of these Armstrongs. So
far from being traitors to Scotland, Gilnockie and his
followers endeavored to their utmost to force the Eng-
lish warden to acknowledge Eskdale as a portion of
Scotland. Whether Lord Maxwell was a friend or a
foe to Johnie in the proceedings is hard to say; at the
time of the execution he was in confinement and ap-
parently in disgrace. A friendship existed between the
Maxwells and Armstrongs for many years after. Still,
Maxwell profitted within a month by Johnie's death,
as the following document demonstrates.

- TRABrnMMCOtM

TUT MM TIM *nT WtW MMIV

JOHN AfUISTRONC m eitHOCIin.
■MiM Mi nrtmnut n rtmr wi •""'■

ntttrcM

tnuno stms2aii»*r

N.'^*^

•"*-• ^V

THE TABLET AT CAERLANRIC.

€t)e ^mi^t of St^amgertoun 159

" Anc Icttrc maid to Robert lord Maxwell, his airis and
assignais, ane or ma, of the gift of all gudis, movabill and
immovabill, dettis, takkis, obligationis, soumes of money,
giftis of nonentres, and utheris quhatsumever qhilkis pcr-
tenit to umquhill John Armstrang, bruther to Thomas
Armstrang of Mayngertoun, an now perteinying to our
soureraine lord be resoun of eschete throw justifying of
the said umqhill Johnne to the deid for thift commitit
be him, etc. At Preisthauch, the viii day of July, the
yeir forsaid" (1530). (Reg. Sec. Sig., vol. viii, f. 195.)

The Ballad of Johnie Armstrang.

This spirited ballad is said upon good authority to have been composed by
Ringan's Thorn (1600), the last minstrel of the Armstrongs. (See Roxburghc
Collection.) "Copied from a gentleman's mouth of the name of Armstrang,
who is the sixth generation from this John. He tells me this was ever esteemed
the genuine ballad." (Allan Ramsay.)

Sum speiks of lords, sum speiks of lairds,
And siclyke men of hie degrie;
Of a gentleman I sing a sang,
Symtyme called Laird of Giinockic.

'The king he wrytes a luving letter.
With his ain hand sae tenderly :
And he hath sent it to Johny Armstrang,
To cum and speik with him speidily.

" The Eliots and Armstrangs did convene.
They were a gallant company :
* We 'ill ryde and meit our lawful king.
And bring him safe to Gilnockie.

156 <ri)nmtcleje( of tf^e ^tm^tvtn^^

** * Make kinnen and capon ready, then.
And venison in great plenty ;
We 'ill welcome hame our royal king ;
I hope he 'ill dyne at Gilnockie!'

"They ran their horse on the Langum howm.
And brake their speirs with mekle main;
The ladys lukit frae their loft-windows,
* God bring our men weil back again!*

"When Johny came before the king,
With all his men sae brave to see,
The king he movit his bonnet to him ;
He weind he was a king as well as he.

" * May I find grace, my sovereign liege,
Grace for my loyal men and me ?
For my name it is Johny Armstrong,
And subjects of yours, my liege,' said he.

" * Away, away, thou tray tor, Strang !
Out of my sicht thou mayst sune be !
I grantit nevir a traytors lyfe.
And now I '11 not begin with thee.*

" * Grant me my lyfe, my liege, my king.
And a bony gift I will give to thee ;
Full four-and-twenty milk-whyt steids,
Were a' fo-ald in a yeir to me.

" * I '11 gie thee all these milk-whyt steids.
That prance and nicher at a speir.
With as mekle gude Inglis gilt.
As four of their braid backs dow beir.*

" 'Away, away, thou traytor, Strang!
Out o' my sicht thou mayst sune be !
I grantit nevir a traytors lyfe.
And now I '11 not begin with thee.*

Ci)e f^im^t of d^atngertoutt 157

" * Grant me my lyfc, my liege, my king,
And a bony gift I '11 gie to thee ;
Gude four-and-twenty ganging mills,
That gang throw a' the yeir to me.

"* These four-and-twenty mills complete
Sail gang for thee throw all the yeir,
And as mekle of gude reid wheit,
As all their happers dow to bear.'

" * Away, away, thou tray tor, Strang !
Out of my sicht thou mayst sune be!
I grantit nevir a traytors lyfe.
And now I '11 not begin with thee.*

** * Grant me my lyfe, my liege, my king.
And a great gift I '11 gie to thee ;
Bauld four-and-twenty sisters sons,
Sail for thee fecht, tho all sould flee.'

" * Away, away, thou traytor, Strang !
Out of my sicht thou mayst sune be!
I grantit nevir a traytors lyfe.
And now I '11 not begin with thee.*

" * Grant me my lyfe, my liege, my king.
And a brave gift I '11 gie to thee;
All betwene heir and Newcastle town
Sail pay thair yeirly rent to thee.'

" ' Away, away, thou traytor, Strang !
Out of my sicht thou mayst sune be!
I grantit nevir a traytors lyfe.
And now I '11 not begin with thee.*

" * Ye lied, ye lied, now, king,' he says,
'Althocht a king and prince ye be.
For I luid naithing in all my lyfe,
I dare well say it, but honesty ;

158 €f^vm\it\tff of tf\t %tm0tvimQ^

" * But a fat horse, and a fair woman,
Twa bony dogs to kill a deir :
But Ingland suld haif found me meil and mault,
Gif I had lived this hundred yeir!

"'Sche suld haif found me meil and mault,
And beif and mutton in all plentie:
But neir a Scots wyfe could haif said
That eir I skaithed her a pure flie.

" ' To seik het water beneth cauld yce.
Surely it is a great folie:
I haif asked grace at a graceless face,
But there is nane for my men and me.

" * But had I kend, or I came frae hame.
How thou unkynd wadst bene to me,
I wad haif kept the border-syde,
In spyte of all thy force and thee.

"'Wist Englands king that I was tane,
O gin a blyth man wald he be !
For anes I slew his sisters son,
And on his breist-bane brak a tree.*

"Ther hang nine targats at Johnys hat.
And ilk an worth three hundred pound:
'What wants that knave that a king suld haif,
But the sword of honour and the crown !

" * O whair gat thou these targats, Johnie,
That blink sae brawly abune thy brie?'
' I gat them in the field fechting,
Wher, cruel king, thou durst not be.

" ' Had I my horse, and my harness gude,
And ryding as I wont to be.
It sould haif bene tald this hundred yeir
The meiting of my king and me.

€I)e f^im^t of iQ^amgertoun

159

" * God be withee, Kirsty, my brither,
Lang live thou Laird of Mangertoun !
Lang mayst thou live on the border-syde
Or thou se thy brither ryde up and doun.

" * And God be withee, Kirsty, my son,
Whair thou sits on thy nurses knee !
But and thou live this hundred yeir,
Thy fathers better thoult never be.

" * Farweil, my bonny Gilnock-Hall,
Whair on Esk-syde thou standest stout!
Gif I had lived but seven yeirs mair,
I wald haif gilt thee round about.'

"John murdred was at Carlinrigg,
And all his galant companie:
But Scotlands heart was never sae wac,
To see sae mony brave men die.

((

Because they savd their country deir
Frae Englishmen ; nane were sae bauld,
Whyle Johnie livd on the border-syde,
Nane of them durst cum neir his hald."

The Song of Johnie Armstrong.

^-^-^^

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-X.

*
/^

^^ ^

r5*-

{Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.)

162 €f)roni(Ie^ of ti^t ^Hmtjmongjtf

Johnny Armstrong's Last Good-Night,

Wtitmortland Vtrsion.

" Is there ever a Man in all Scotland,
From the highest Estate to the lowest Degree,
That can shew himself now before our King,
Scotland is so full of Treachery ?

"Yes, there is a Man in Westmorland
And Johnny Armstrong they do him call.
He has no Lands nor Rents coming in,
Yet he keeps Eightscore Men within his Hall.

" He has Horses and Harness for all his Men,
And goodly Steeds that be Milk-white,
With goodly Belts about their Necks,
And Hats and Feathers all alike.

" The King he writes a loving Letter
And with his own Hand so tenderly,
He Hath sent it unto Johnny Armstrong,
To come and speak with him speedily.

" When John he looked this Letter upon.
He looked as Blith as a Bird in a tree,
I was never before a King in my Life,
My Father, my Grandfather, nor none of us three.

" But seeing we must go before the King,
Lord, we will go most gallantly,
Ye shall every one have a Velvet Coat,
Laid down with golden Laces three.

" But when Johnny went from Giitnock-Hall,
The wind it blew hard, and full fast it did rain.
Now fare thee well thou Giitnock-Hall,
I fear I shall never see thee again.

€()e f^tm^t of ^^atngertoun 1163

" Now Johnny he is to Caerlanrig gone,
With all his Men so gallantly,
And every one of them on a Milk-white steed,
With their Bucklers and Swords hanging to their Knee.

" But when John came the King before,
With his gallant men so grand to see,
The King he moved his Bonnet to him
He thought he had been a King as well as he.

" O Pardon, pardon, my Sovereign Liege,
Pardon for my Men and me ;
For my Name it is Johnny Armstrong,
And Subject of yours, my Liege, said he.

" Away with thee, thou false Tray tor.
No Pardon will I grant to thee,
But to-Morrow Morning by Eight of the Clock,
I will hang up thy men and thee,

"Then Johnny looked over his left Shoulder,
And to his merry men thus said he,
I have asked grace of a graceless Face,
No Pardon there is for you and me.

" Then John pulled out his good broad Sword,
That was made of the Mettle so free.
Had not the King moved his Foot as he did,
John had taken his Head from his fair Body.

" Come follow me my merry Men all.
We will scorn one Foot for to fly.
It shall never be said we were hanged like dogs,
We will fight it out most manfully.

"Then they fought on like Champions bold,
For their hearts were sturdy, stout and free,
'Till they had killed all the King's good Guard,
There were none left alive but one, two or three.

164 Cf^vonitW of tf)e 3Crmiertrongitf

" But then rose up the Kings Army,
They rose up by Thousands three,
A cowardly Scot came John behind,
And run him through the fair Body.

"Said John, Fight on my merry Men all,
I am a little wounded but am not slain,
I will lay me down to bleed awhile,
Then I '11 rise and fight with you again.

" Then they fought on like mad Men all,
'Till many a Man lay dead on the Plain,
For they were resolved before they would yeald.
That every man would there be slain.

" So there they fought couragiously,
'Till most of them lay dead there and slain.
But little Musgrave, that was his Foot-Page,
With his bonny Grissel got away unta'n.

" But when he came to Giltknock-Hall,
The Lady spy'd him presently,
What News, what News, thou little Foot-Page,
What News from thy Master, and his Company.

" My News is bad, Lady, he said,
Which I do bring, as you may see,
My Master Johnny Armstrong is slain.
And all his gallant Company.

" Yet thou art welcome home, my bonny Grissel,
Full oft thou hast been fed with Corn and Hay,
But now thou shalt be fed with Bread and Wine,
And thy sides shall be spurr'd no more, I say.

" O then bespake his little Son,
As he sat on his Nurses Knee,
If ever I live to be a Man,
My Father's Death revenged shall be."

(Collection of 1723.)

€l)e ^tnx^t of ^l^anigertoun 165

Jonnif Armestrong.

Thu is the ballad which was «ung by the English Borderers in the seventeenth
and perhaps in the latter part of the sixteenth century. It must be remembered that
lonne was claimed as an Englishman, and that the Armstrongs had free access to
the Carlisle markets contrary to treaty. It was probably to some such custom as
this that he alluded when he said, •• But Ingland suld haif found me mcil and malt,
gif I had livd this hundred yeir."

" There dwelt a man in faire Wcstmcrland
lonne Armestrong men did him call,
He had nither lands nor rents coming in,
Yet he kept eight score men in his hall.

" He had horse and harness for them all,
Goodly steeds were all milke-white ;

0 the golden bands about their necks.
And their weapons, they were all alike.

" Newes then was brought unto the king
That there was sicke a won as hee.
That lived lyke a bold out-law
And robbed all the North Country.

"The king he writt an a letter then,
A letter which was large and long;
He signed it with his owne hand,
And he promised to do him no wrong.

"When this letter came lonne untill.
His heart it was as blythe as birds on the tree:
* Never was I sent for before any king,
My father, my grandfather, nor none but mce.

"* And if wee goe the king before,

1 would we went most orderly ;

Every man of you shall have his scarlet cloak.
Laced with silver laces three.

166 €f^vomt\e0 of tf)e %tni^ttims^

" * Every won of you shall have his velvett coat,
Laced with sillver lace so white;
O the golden bands an about your necks,
Black hatts, white feathers, all alyke.'

" By the morrow morninge at ten of the clock,
Towards Edenburough gon was hee.
And with him all his eight score men;
Good lord, it was a goodly sight for to see!

"When lonne came befower the king.
He fell downe on his knee;
* O pardon, my soveraine leige,' he said,
*0 pardon my eight score men and mee!'

"'Thou shalt have no pardon, thou traytor Strong,
For thy eight score men nor thee;
For to-morrow morning by ten of the clock.
Both thou and them shall hang on the gallow-tree.*

" But lonne look'd over his left shoulder.
Good Lord, what a grievious look, looked hee!
Saying, Asking grace of a graceless face —
Why there is none for you nor me.

" But lonne had a bright sword by his side,
And it was made of the mettle so free.
That had not the king stept his foot aside,
He had smitten his head from his faire bodde.

" Saying, Fight on, my merry men all,
And see that none of you be taine;
For rather then men shall say we were hang'd.
Let them report how we were slaine.

"Then, God wott, faire Eddenburrough rose.
And so besett poore lonne rounde.
That fowerscore and tenn of lonnes best men
Lay gasping all upon the ground.

€f^t f^mi^t of iSt^aittgertoun 167

"Then like a mad man lonnc laidc about.

And like a mad man then fought hee,

Untill a falce Scot came lonne behinde,

And run him through the faire boddee.
" Saying, Fight on, my merry men all,

And see that none of you be taine;

For I will stand by and bleed but awhile,

And then will I come and fight againe.
" Newes then was brought to young lonne Armestrong,

As he stood by his nurses knee,

Who vowed if ere he liv'd for to be a man,

O the treacherous Scots revengd hee'd be.

Fragment of Other Versions of the Ballad of Johnie Armstrang.
"They took the gallows from the slack,
An they set it on a plain,
An there they hanged Johnnie Armstrong,
Wi fifty of his warlike men."

{English and Scotch Ballads.)
" With hempen cordis grit and lang
They hangit braw Johnie Armstrang,
And threty sax o' his cumpanie
At Caerlanrig were hung fu' hie,
Twal mae war sent to Edinbro* toun
Wha for border theft were a' put down."

{Border Exploits.)

Two years after the terrible tragedy the Earl
"^*^ ' of Northumberland wrote in October to
Henry VIII, "The Borders — the Armstrong country
especially — will not resist an invasion." (Pamphlet,
yohn Armstrong Memorial, Hawick, September 2ist,
1899.) The opportunity for a breach with Scotland
soon followed, and Northumberland ravaged the
Middle Marches, and burned Branxholm, the abode of

168 €f)romcIeie( of tf)e ^Crnijertrongier

Buccleuchy an hereditary enemy of the English name.
Buccleuch, with the barons of Cessford and

DO J* Fairnihirst, retaliated by a raid into England,
where they acquired much spoil. On the East March,
Fowberry was destroyed by the Scots and Dunglass
Castle by D'Arcey and the banished Angus; then a
short period of peace followed.

Emerging from the modern Newcastleton, the eye
travels over an extensive tract of rich enclosures, ex-
tended around like an assemblage of gardens. Nearby
the beautiful rivulet of Whithaugh falls into the Liddal,
first flowing in a serpentine direction round an extensive
lawn, the former site of Whithaugh tower. Only a
small pyramid of carved and moss-covered stones marks
the spot to-day, although its ruins were standing almost
entire as late as the year 1800. Besides their extensive
estates in Liddesdale these Armstrongs possessed con-
siderable property in Eweshead (see 1456), to which
they retired during the summer months. During one
of these occasions, having left the place under

^J^* slight guard, Whithaugh was plundered by
the freebooters of Bewcastle, who among other things
carried off several valuable papers. Upon being in-
formed of this outrage, Whithaugh sent a messenger to
Bewcastle requesting Taylor, the leader, to return the
documents. For answer they were brought out and
burnt in defiance. Such an act naturally operated to
enkindle Whithaugh's anger the more. He bided his
time until the elements favored him and a good wind
blew, when he summoned his retainers and, under cover
of a night when least expected, went stealthily into

€t)e i^on^t of Sl^amgertoun 169

Cumberland, where he wickered the doors of his ene-
mies' strongholds and set them all on fire. But Sym
the Larde was a doomed man. [Border Exploits, p. 226,
edit. 181 2, Hawick.)

Almost opposite Whithaugh, on the other side of the
Liddal, was The Park, called in the sixteenth century
Copshaw Park. In it was Copshaw Tower or Park-
house, marked on the map of 181 2; adjoining it was
Copshaha, meaning Copshaw-haugh. On the oldest
map Whithaugh and Copshaw were included within
the same bounds. David the Lady and his brother Sym
the Larde occupied these lands (see 1563-66). They
are mentioned as representing one of the four main
branches of Liddesdale (see 1500). Herbert of the
Park lived at Park-house, and is stated to have been a
son of David the Lady. David, son of Herbert of the
Park, went from this place over to Ewesdale and settled
there upon an estate also named The Park. (William
Armstrong of Caulside, Canonbie.)

Abstract of a charter in favour of Davidy son of Herbert Arm-
strong, of the Lands of Park, Ewesdale, dated 6th Sept., 1535.
" Charter by King James V. in favour of David Armstrong,
son of Herbert, of the 5 merk lands of old extent of Park, lying
in Ewesdale, in the shire of Dumfries; which lands belonged
before to Robert lord Maxwell heritably, and were resigned by
him by staff and baton, personally, in the kings hands at Cra-
mald: To hold the said David Armstrong and his heirs, of
the king and his successors, in fee and heritage forever, for the
duties and services used and wont to be rendered therefor.
Dated at Cramald, 6th September [1535]."

(Reg. Mag. Sig., Lib. xxv. No. 272.
History of Liddesdale, Appendix XXVL)

170 Cfjronitleifif of tJje 3trmitftron0iflf

Sym the Lardc was executed on the Harribee in 1536.

According to the Register Lyon Office, the lairds of

, Whithaugh were descended from Mainger-

•^*^ ' toun and were probably the first cadets of
that house. The first membership of the branch of
whom we have definite notice is Simon, called Sym the
Larde. His crest and shield are described in this work
under the year 1559 and under the head of Customs of
the Liddesdale Folk.

Robert Elwald of Thorleshope and Simon

J d / * Armstrong in Tinnisburne were created offi-
cers (serjandi) of Liddesdale at the court of justiciary
held and begun in the Castle of Hermitage on Friday,
15th of March, 1537, before Robert Lord Maxwell,
justiciary in that part. (Books of Adjournal, MS. Gen-
eral Register House.)

The following record of a charter has been intro-
duced more on account of its descriptive value of a
Border homestead than for any genealogical facts which
it may present. Ninian Armstrong, called Ringan,
Rynane, Rinzian, and Larde Ninian, was a son of 111
Will's Sande, is named as such in Monnipenny's List
of 1597, and is also mentioned in these Chronicles un-
der the years of 1541, 1548, 1557, 1562, 1586, and
1597. He represented that branch of the Gingles
called the House of Ralston, taking the name from the
picturesque Raltonburn of Liddesdale, upon whose
banks he dwelt with his brothers Thom, William, and
Robert. (See 1541.) Ninian's family were the wild-
est of all the Armstrongs ; they ended by living in the
gloomy halls of Wauchope Castle, a ruin even in their

€J)e l^oujtfe of Q9am0crtoun 171

time, and by the murder of Carmichael, the Scottish
warden, in 1 600. The old monument with the sword
carved upon it, built into the wall of Wauchope ceme-
tery, was carved in memory of one of the chiefs of this
branch. Kinmont Will, of ballad renown, was a
brother of Ninian, and Ringan's Thom was the tribal
minstrel. (Roxburghe Collection.)

Abstract of a charter by Robert Lord Maxwell to Ninian Arm-
strong of the Land of Arkiltouny Ewesdaky dated ^th July^

^537-

" Charter by Robert Lord Maxwell, lord of the lands of Ewis-
dale and Eskdale, in favour of Ninian Armestrang in Arkil-
toun, and his heirs, of all and whole the lands of Arkiltoun,
extending to a ten pound land of old extent, with the perti-
nents, lying in the lordship of Eskdale, within the bounds of
Ewisdale, and shire of Dumfries: which lands of Arkiltoun be-
longed before in heritage to William Johnston of Gretno, and
were by him resigned in due form in the hands of the said
Lord Maxwell, as superior: To hold to the said Ninian Arme-
strang, of the grantor and his heirs, in fee and heritage for ever,
by all their just marches, as they lie in length and breadth, in
houses, biggings, woods, plains, muirs, etc., mills, multures,
and their sequels; fowlings, huntings and fishings; peats,
divots, coals ; rabbits, rabbit warrens, pigeons, pigeon-cots,
etc.; quarries of stone and lime; with courts and their issues,
fines, etc.; with common pasture, and all other liberties and
advantages belonging, or which may justly belong in future, to
the said lands : Rendering therefore yearly the service of ward
and relief only. Sealed and subscribed by the said Lord Max-
well, at Edinburgh, 4th July 1537."

(From the original in the possession of William Scott Eliot,
Esq., of Arkiltoun. Seal attached perfect. History of Liddes-
daky Appendix XX VI II.)

172 €t^vonu\t0 of tf^t %vm^tvi}ng0

In a list of rebels of England "resett" in Scotland,
January, 1539-40, we find among others the names of
" Ingrem Armstrang of the Graynys, Anton Armstrang,
Christy Armstrang, his broder, Edy Wigame, Thom
Armstrang, Sandy son, resset and dwelling in Tweden
with yong Ector Armstrang in Lidders-dell." (MS.
Record Office.)

In reading the list of Crown lands of May 7th, 1541,
it should be borne in mind that it was customary for
the immediate members of a family to occupy land
conjointly, adjoining, or near each other. The oldest
member was generally accorded first choice, the others
in the order of their age. When choosing they took care
if possible not to have theland too distant from

•^^ ' the paternal acres. Some lands were chosen for
their grazing, some for their produce growing, and others
for their quarries, fishing, or hunting advantages. Many
of these places have retained their ancient names to this
day ; those that have not may be easily located by the aid
of the oldest maps of Liddesdale. Ouhithauch is Old
English for Whithaugh, Manys is The Mains, Wowlik
was also spelled Oulack, Grenys meant The Greens or
upper and lower Grena, Wedoschelis probably merged
into Woodhouselee, Quhisgills is to-day Whisgills, and
Meriantoun is another name for Maingertoun. By these
and other facts we are able to locate the homes of many
of the leading characters of the Border ballads with tol-
erable assurance. The rambler about Liddesdale will
stumble over the foundations of many an old tower whose
history, although not recorded in books, has been handed
down by tradition.

€I)e I^ou^e of ^amgmoun 173

When, in 1541, the rent-roll of the lordship of Lid-
desdale was prepared, it was asserted that the following
lands belonged to the lord of Meriantoun in heritage:
Half of the Regarthe, Ragarth, Sorbe, and Sorbetrees,
Howthornsyde, besides Meriantoun, Mylneholm, and
Langlands. These and other lands were in possession
of the family:

Bilhope . . . xij mercatc tcrrarum. Asscdantur Thome Armi-
strang de Meriantoun: solvcndo annuatim vij merkis.
[Thorn the Larde.]

Mylhous . . . xvs. terrarum. Assedantur Thome Armestrang:
solvendo annuatim xvs. [Thom the Larde.]

Ouhithauch . . . decim soldate et octo denariate terrarum. As-
sedantur Jacobo Armistrang: solvendo annuatim xs. viijd.
pock of Whithaugh.]

Crukilbank . . . xs. viijd. denariate terrarum. Assedantur Wil-
lelmo Armistrang: solvendo annuatim xs. viijd. [Will of
Kinmont.]

Manys . . . xs. et octo denariate terrarum. Assedantur Thome
Armistrang: solvendo annuatim xs. viijd. [Thom the
Larde.]

Kyrndene . . . una mercata terrarum. Assedatur Georgio Armi-
strang: solvendo xiijs. iiiid. [Hector of Harelaw's brother.]

Dykraw . . . una mercata terre. Assedatur Willelmo Armi-
strang et Hectori Armistrang, solvendo annuatim xiijs. iiijd.
[Hector with the Griefs and the Cuts of Harelaw and his
brother.]

Hardenbank . . . j mercata terre. Assedatur Johanni Armi-
strang : solvendo annuatim xiijs. iiijd. [Jock of Whithaugh.]

Arnothil . . . tres solidate quatuor denariate terrarum. Asse-
dantur Niniano Armistrang: solvendo annuatim iijs. iiijd.
[Larde Ninian of Ralton.]

Welstremys . . . due solidate terrarum. Assedantur Niniano
Armistrang: solvendo annuatim ijs. [Larde Ninian.]

174 €f^timitU0 of t^e %vmfitcw^0

Storeysteid alias Gudeland . . . quinque solidate terrarum. As-
sedantur Cristallo Armistrang: solvendo vs. annuatim.
[Christopher of Langholm.]

Byreholme . . . xxvjs. viijd. terrarum. Assedantur Hectori
Armistrang: solvendo annuatim xxvjs. viijd. [Hector of
Harelaw.]

Powis . . . xiijs. quatuor denariate terrarum. Assedantur Cris-
tallo Armistrang: solvendo annuatim xiijs. iiijd. [Christo-
pher of Langholm.]

Raltoun . . . Tres librate septem solidate terrarum. Assedantur
Roberto Armistrang, Niniano Armistrang et Thome Armi-
strang: solvendo annuatim iij li. vijs. [Larde Ninian and
his brothers.]

Wowlik . . . viginti solidate terrarum. Assedantur Simoni
Armistrang, serjando : solvendo annuatim xxs. [Simon of
Tinnisburn.]

Ovir Gubbislie . . . sexdecim solidate terrarum. Assedantur
Thome Armistrang de Meriantoun, Cuthberto Armistrang:
solvendo annuatim xvjs. [Thom the Larde and his brother
Robert.]

Nethir Gubbislie . . . viijs terrarum. Assedantur Willelmo
Armistrang et Roberto Armistrang: solvendo annuatim xiijs.
[Brothers of Thom the Larde.]

Grenys . . . decim soldate terrarum. Assedantur Thome Armi-
strang callit the Bull: solvendo annuatim xs. [Sim's Thom
of Tinnisburn.]

Pollok . . . quinque soldate terrarum. Assedantur Cristallo
Armistrang: solvendo vs. [Christopher of Langholm.]

Toddelis . , . quinque solidate. Assedantur dicto Cristallo:
solvendo annuatim vs. [Christopher of Langholm.]

Cristishil . . . quinque solidate terrarum. Assedantur domino
de Meriantoun: solvendo vs.

Carglais . . . xxiiij'^s terrarum. Assedantur Alexandro Armi-
strang: solvendo annuatim xxiiijs. [Ill Will's Sande.]

Sisseschelis . . . xiijs. quatuor denariate terrarum. Assedantur

€t)e ^mx^t of Sl^aingertoun 175

Alexandre Armistrang: solvcndo annuatim xiijs. iiijd. [Ill
Will's Sandc]

Ovir Foulwod . . . dccim soHdate tcrrarum. Asscdantur Alex-
andre Armistrang: solvendo xs. [Ill Will's Sandc]

Nethir Foulwod . . . decim soldate terrarum. Asscdantur
Symoni Armistrang annuatim xs, [Simon of Tinnisburn.]

Wedoschelis . . . quatuor decim solidate terrarum. Asscdantur
Symoni Armistrang: solvendo annuatim xiiijs. [Simon of
Tinnisburn.]

Stanygil . . . quinque solidate tcrrarum. Asscdantur dicto Sy-
moni : solvendo annuatim, vs. [Simon of Tinnisburn.]

Reidmoss . . . xxx denariate terrarum. Asscdantur dicto Sv-

moni : solvendo xxxd. [Simon of Tinnisburn.]

Ovir Quhisgillis, Nethir Quhisgillis, Pervencn et Burnmouth
. . . novem mercate tcrrarum. Asscdantur Bartholomco et
Niniano Armistrang: solvendo annuatim vj li. [Robert and
Ninian of Ralton.]

Flatt . . . quinque mercate terrarum. Asscdantur Symoni
Armistrang: solvendo annuatim v mcrkis. [Simon of Tin-
nisburn.]

Half of the Rcgarth . . . quinque mercate terrarum. Asseritur
pertinerc domino dc Meriantoun in hereditate.

Hangmannis acre . . . xxx denariate terrarum. Asscdantur
Thome Armistrang: solvendo annuatim xxxd. [Thom the
Larde.]

Tynneswod grene . . . quinque mercate tcrrarum. Asscdantur
Symoni Armistrang: solvcndo annuatim, v mcrkis. [Simon
of Tinnisburn.]

Blackburn . . . sex solidate ct octo denariate. Asscdantur Mar-
tino Armistrang: solvcndo annuatim vjs. viijd.

Mylholme ct Langlandis . . . asseritur pertincre domino dc
Meriantoun.

Ragarth Sorbe et Sorbetrcis . . . decim mercate tcrrarum. As-
seritur pertinerc domino dc Meriantoun in hereditate.

Dalferno . . . xxs. tcrrarum. Asseritur pertincre Symoni Armi-

176 CfjroniclciBf of t^t SHrm^trongitf

Strang ct Cristallo Armistrang pertinere. [Sym the Younger
and Christie of the Side.]

Hauthornsyd . . . vjs. viij denariate terrarum. Asseritur perti-
nere domino de Meriantoun in hereditate.

Meriantoun, Mylnholm ... in manibus domini de Meriantoun
hereditarie, ut asseritur.
(Extracts from the Rent-roll of Crown lands, MS. Register

House.)

In this year also the Armstrongs and Grahms de-
termined to settle and finish their differences incurred
during the year 1528 when the latter clan was suspect-
ed of betraying the Liddesdale people to the enemy.
A fierce and cruel feud raged between these warlike
families during the greater part of the year, as the
records testify. Towards the end the Armstrongs chal-
lenged the whole clan of Grahms to mortal combat in
true medieval style, in consequence of which directions
were sent by the privy council of England to Sir
Thomas Wharton, warden of the West March, as fol-
lows: "And as touching the challenge made by the
Armstrongs against the Grames, his Highness is con-
tented that the same shall be performed so as his Majesty
be first advertised of the circumstances thereof, and that
it be done in an indifferent place before the Wardens
of both Marches." No further information is to be
gleaned from the manuscript record, but it is evident
that recourse to some method of amicable settlement
was resorted to, for we soon find them mingling again
in friendship. (See Proceedings and Ordinances of the
Privy Council of England, vol. viii, p. 239.)

€f>e l^ouj6(e of a^awfffrtoun * 177

In "The dowblc of the Articulis gevin be the Kingis Grace
of Scotland, our Soverane, to us Williame Bischop of Abirden,
Robert Bischop of Orknay, and Maister Thomas Bellenden
Directour of the Chancellarie ; to be schawin to the Kingis
Majestie of Ingland, His oerrest Uncle, and to wis Counsale,"
we find that " 29 day of Maij in the yeir of God ane thowsand
five hundreth fourtieane yeir, the said Richart Grame, Thome
the Grame, Ferguse Grame, Will Grame, John Grame alias
Johne the Braid, Huchon Grame, bredre and soneis to Lang
Will the Grame, Inglismen, Patrick Grame of the Holme,
David Grame, bredir and soneis to Watt Grame of Hawrisgill,
and thair complicis, Inglismen, to the nummer of fyfty men or
thairby, with oppin day forray come to Auchinfettrik within
the grund of Scotland, in the landis of Logane, in the parrochin
of Kyrkpatrick, and thair murdreist and slew Thomas Armi-
strang, Rolland Armistrang Williame Armistrang bredir,
Scottismen, sonis to David Armistrang; and apon Tuisday
nixt thaireftir the said malefactouris come to the day of trew,
haldin be Schir Thomas Quhartoun and Lord Maxwell War-
danis at Collaircryik, quhair, as place appointit for administra-
tioun of justice, making of redrese, the said malefactouris, in
contemplatioun of justice, and ostentatioun of thair greit crueltie,
and to provoik the parteis hurt to mair displcssour, come with
recent bludc of the personis slayn, as said is, apon thair jakkis,
dowblat, slevis, handis, and sparkis of blude apon thair facis, un-
weschin of, in presence of ane greit multitude baith Inglis and
Scottis. And, albeit the said Lord Maxwell instantlie askit
redrese, he wes not ansuerrit." ..." Seand that justice wes de-
nyit, thair wes apperand truble to cum through the slauchtir
of our liegis foirsaid be thair freyndis," ..." The denying of
justice movit thame of Liddisdall to greit dolour to seik re-
venge of the slauchtir of thair freyndis and uderis siclyke," . . .
" quhilk revenge seking was sa displesand to Us, and in spe-
ciale because of the being of our said derrast uncle in the north
partis of his Realme, We, movit thairthrough, wes passand
12

178 €t^vtmit\t0 of rt|c StmijBftnmgiBf

Our self in propre person to Liddisdaill, purposing to have
maid sic rigorouse punischement apon the committaris of the
samyn, as wes never hard of befoir." (State Papers of Henry
VIII.)

"Complenis Christophore Armstrang, Syme Armstrang and
Ginkeyn Armstrang, apon Richart Grame, F'erguss Grame,
Thome Grame, Will Grame, John Grame, brethir and soneis to
Lang Will Grame, Mathew Grame, callit the Growff, Will
Grame callit Will of Baly, Johne Grame, Pait Grame of the
Holme, Will Grame, callit Wattis Will, and thair complicis,
to the nummer of Ix pcrsonis Inglesmen, that thai come to
Kyrkhili, (^uhisgillis, and Stanegill, in Eddiltoun parochin in
Liddisdail the xxvj day of Juiij last by past, at nycht and thair
bryntt the howss and biggingis of Kyrkhili, Quhisgillis and
Stanegill, insycht and gudis being thairin, to the valour of
viij"" of angell noblis, agane," etc. (State Papers of Henry
Vlll.)

" Complenis Sym Armstrang, Lance Armstrang, brethir to
umqubill [erst-while] Andro Armstrang" against "Sir Thomas
Quhartoun, Knicht Wardane of the West Marches of Ingland,
Thomas Dacre his deput, John Mwsgraif, Captaine of Bew-
casteil," Grames, and others. [This clause was marked across,
as though it were made void in the original document.] (See
History of Liddesdale^ Appendix XXXIV. State Papers of
Henry VIII, vol. v, p. 195.)

"Complenis Christophore Armstrang, Anthone Armstrang,
George Armstrang," and others against "Thomas Dacre,
I'.duerd Hedringtoun, Jhone Hlanarhassatt, Thomas Hlakloik,
Kichart Grame, sone to Lang Will the Grame, Kerguss the
Grame, Thomas Grame, Huchon Grame, Will Grame, brethir
to the said Kichart Grame, Thomas Wilson, Pait Grame of
the Holme, Will Grame, callit Wattis Will, Johne Skeltoun
of Hrandquhatr, Dob Hogeon, and thair complicis to the num-
mer of viij*^ personis — that thai come in the ground of Liddis-
daill, the xvij day of October last bypast, with oppin day for-

€|)e l^oujtfe of ^ingertoun 179

ray, and thair tuik, had draifFaway, and reft v"" nolt, ij' schicp,
j' gayit, and uderis gudis, and brynt the howss, biggingis, in-
sycht gudis — quheit, beir, aitis, and hay the skaith therof ij"!!,
agane the verteu," etc. (State Papers of Henry VIII, vol. v.
No. 29. MS. Record Office.)

" Complenis Gynkeyn Armstrang, Niniane Armstrang,
Archibald Armstrang, Berty Armstrang, Alexander Armstrang,
Thome Noble, Quyntyne Rowtleisch, and thair nychtbowris,
Scottismen, apon Thomas Dacre, brodre to the Lord Dacre,
and Wardane deput undir Schir Thomas Quhairtoun, Wardane
of the West Marchis of Ingland, Thomas Blenarhassat, land
serjand of Gillesland, John Blanarhassatt of Erdington, Albany
Feder, Stanehauch [Featherstanehaugh], young lard of the
samyn, Eduerd Hedderington, baillie of Tortrossane, Thome
Wilson, baillie of Askyrktoun, Roger Blaiklok, Baillie of
Skelby, Dob Hogeon, wardane officiar under Sir Thomas
Quhairtoun, Richart Grame, and thair fallowis, to the noumer
of v*^ personis, Inglismen, that thai co[men] the moneth of
October till Dalquhairnay holme [Dalefern holm], Quhisgillis,
Uver Myddlem and Nedder, the Flatt, Cristishill, in Lyddis-
daill, and slew Andro Armstrong, as of befoir, tuik and drave
away xx" of ky and oxin, xxx"" sheip, x" gait, j' swyne, xvj
horss and meris, and udir gudis," etc. (State Papers of Henry
VIII, vol. V, p. 195.)

On 13th March, 1542-43, when ambassadors were
despatched to the King of England, they received in-
structions to agree to the division of the Debateable
Land, "so that ilk realme might ken their awin part,
and puniss the inhabitants tharof for their demeritis,
providing alwayis that Canybe fall hale to Scotland."
(Records of Parliament, p. 648.)

160 €f^nnitUfi of tf)e %vmftttimg0

In the battle of Haddenrig, the English and
"^^ ' the exiled Douglases were defeated by the
lords Huntly and Home, only a transient gleam of
success. Kelso was burned and the Borders ravaged by
the Duke of Norfolk. Finally, the rout of Solway
Moss, in which ten thousand men, the flower of the
Scottish army, were dispersed and defeated by a band
of five hundred English cavalry, or rather by their own
dissensions, broke the proud heart of James V of Scot-
land, a death more painful a hundredfold than was met
by his father on the field of Flodden. When the
strength of the Scottish army had sunk, without
wounds and without renown, the principal chiefs were
led captive into England. Among these was Lord
Maxwell, who was compelled, by the menaces of
Henry VIII, to swear allegiance to the English mon-
arch. [Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border^ p. 17, edit.
1868, Lond.)

In 1 543 Maxwell and others who had been captives
in England returned into Scotland; with them came
also the exiled Earl of Angus and his brother Sir
George Douglas. After a banishment of fifteen years
this powerful family regained at least a part of their
influence upon the Borders, and, grateful to the king-
dom which had aflx)rded them protection during their
exile, became chiefs of the English faction in Scotland.
About this time the Armstrongs joined the English in
earnest, and we find in a manuscript in the Harleian
Collection, British Museum, No. 1757, a long list of
damages done by them to the Scots under English as-
surance.

€I)e ^nn^t of ^^aingtrtoun 181

Nono Scptembris [1543]. The Armestron^s per mandatum
Thome Wharton. At Awtrick, a towne of the lordes Buclc-
lugh, of his own goodes : xxx Icene and oxen, cc shepe, one
horse.

xiiij Scptembris [1543]. The Armestrongis per mandatum
predictum. At Herihugh the lorde of CUffiirthes landez:
iiij" oxen and kene, xxx shepe, ij prisoners, muche insight
of howsolde stuff.

xv° Scptembris [1543]. The Armestrongis per mandatum pre-
dictum. At Hellmburn the yong larde of Crymstons landcs:
xl oxen and kene, vj horses and mares, all thinsight in six
houss there.

xyj° Scptembris [1543]. The Armstrangis per mandatum pre-
dictum. The towncs of Kirkhop with the gates of the towne
there brent, ballioles and shaves : xx"" note, xij shepe, all the
horses and insightz within the same towncs.

xxj° Scptembris [1543]- The Armstrongis per mandatum pre-
dictum. At Midsop and Firlcston of the Scottes landcs: ij*
oxen and kene, xx horss and marcs v prisoners, all thinsight
in the savde towne.

vj October [1543]. The Armstrongis per mandatum Thome
Wharton. The towne of Rowley with the ... of Deynsyde
brent : one prysoner, xij horss and marcs, naggis, xl oxen
and kene, all thinsight there, one slayne, xxx prysoners.

ix° Octobris [1543]. Anthony Armstrong, the Forsters, etc.

per mandatum predictum. The towncs of Ormiston and Or-

thatche brent: xxx oxen and kene iiij" shepe, muche insight,

sundrye hurtc.
Ultimo Octobris [1543]. The Armcstrongs with the Lyddes-

daylis per mandatum predictum. The graunge of Farnehurst,

all the houss of the onsettis with much corne and catcll of

the lorde of Farnehurst brent: one slayne.
vij° Novembris [1543]. Anthony Armestrong, John Forster,

etc. per mandatum predictum. The towne of Borthickcsheilz

162 €t^ximit\t0 of ti^t %vm0ttcnii!f

fyred and spoyled : vj prisoners, Ix oxen and kene, x horss
and naggis, all thinsight, sundrye hurte.

vij Novcmbris [1543]. The Armestrongis of Lyddesdale per
mandatum predictum. The towne of Alsop: Ix note, cc
shcpc and gotes brent, iiij prisoners, xx kene, one horss,
much insight.

x'" Novembris [1543]. John Armestronges with other Scot-
tyshmennc per mandatvm predictum. The Towre of How-
paslet spoyled belonging to the lorde of Howpaslet, and the
keys of the gate brought to Mr. Wharton: xvj kene, all the
stuff, vj prysners, iiij hurte to deathe.

xxj" Novembris [1543]. The Armestrongis per mandatum
predictum. The townes of Over and Nether Crisshopp with
muche wheate brent: iiij horss, xl oxen and kene, and
muche insight.

v" Januarij [1544]. Andrew Bell, Sandy Armestrongs, with
others per mandatum predictum. The manour of Abniton
belonging to therle of Arreyn with all the come there brent.
Two prysoners, one slayne.

xvij° Februarij. The Armestrongis per mandatum Thome
Wharton. The towne of Laduppe, with fourtye note, brent
belonging to the lord of Howpasley: four horses, with
insight.

xx° Martij. The Armestrongis per mandatum. The towne of
Mynchame of the larde of Mynchames landis brent: Onn
slayne and tenne hurte in peril of dathe, x prisoners, xiiij
horse and naggis, xl oxen and kyen.

xxj° Martij [1544]. The Armestrongis and others per manda-
tum predictum. The townes of Mykkel Kydston, Maislandis
and Kshellis brent: ix prysoniefs with muche goodis.

Archchald Armestronge, by my Lord Whartons commaunde-
ment. An onset called Temple hall uppon the water of
Kowll brent: xl kene and oxen, Ix shepe and gotes, thrc
prysoniers.

€I)e i^oujtfe of ^amgertoun 183

Townes onsettz, graunges and hamlettis spoyled

and burnt cxxiiij

Oxen and kcne brought awaye iij"cclxxxv

Horss and naggis brought awayc iij'xxxij

Shepe and gete brought awaye iiij"vij'x

Prysoners taken iiijViij

Menne slayne xxxv

Gretc quantite of insight brought awayc, over and besydes a
grete quantite of come and insight, and a greate nombre of all
sortes of catail burned in the townes and howss, and is not nom-
bred in the lettres, and menye menne also hurt.

Of the letters of the Lord Wharton, x Julij [1544].

The Armestrongis of Ledisdaill ran two forays, thone to the
lorde of Grestones place, thother to the lordc of Cardonycs
place, and slew there two Scottis and brought awaye xij pris-
oners, c nolte, xl"* shepe, certayne horse and naggis, with
much insight geare.

The Lord Whartons letters of the xvij* of July [1544].
The Armestrangis ran a forraye to the towne of Ladope of
the larde of Howpaslettis landis called Scott, brent the towne
and brought away 1 cattail, onn horse, with much insight and
iiij prysoners and burnt much wool in the sayd towne.

The following extracts are from Hayne's State Pa-
pers, pp. 45 to 54.

Exploits don upon the Scotts.

The Lord Wharton's lettres, ist October [1544].

One hundred of the Armstrangs of Lyddysdayll brent two
townes in Dryvisdayll, in Scotland, called Over-hawhill and
Nather-hawhill of the lard of Applegurthcs lands, and
brought away 6 prisoners, 30 nolt, 6 horses or naggs, 50
shepe, with all the insight in both the said townes.

184 <r]^romcleiBf of t^e 3CrmiBrtrongitf

The Lord Wharton's Lettres of 27th Octobris [1544].

Ccrten of the Armestrangs of Lyddesdaill wan and spoylcd
the tower of Langhope [Langholm], brought away all the
goods in the same, and 4 prisoners.

The Lord Wharton's Lettres of yth Novembris [1544].
The Armestrongs of Lyddesdaill brent a place called Hall-
roul, with a mylne and a town thereunto adjoyning, and ther
slew a Scott, and, in ther return, burnt a town called the
Wyndes, and brought away 80 shepe, 40 nolt, 12 horse and
mares ; i Scott slayn.

Wharton wrote to Lord Shrewsbury, February
"^ •^* 14th, that he had placed a body of foot and a
troop of fifty horse in Langholm Tower "belonging to
the Armstrongs," and had long used one of Johnstone's
followers as an emissary to create discord between John-
stone and Maxwell's son. (Hist. Families of Dwnfries-
shirCy p. 91.)

In the battle of Ancrum Moor the Armstrongs took
a prominent part on the English side. (Godscroft.)

The English, glutted with cruelty, remained
•^ '* more quiet for about two years, when they
again crossed Solway Firth, burnt and plundered Esk-
dale and Annandale, and put garrisons in several of the
fortresses which they had taken. This caused the
regent to march an army into Eskdale to oppose them.
He advanced to Langholm and retook the castle from
the English, who had placed a garrison there. As be-
fore mentioned, Lauj^nolm CasUe was built by Christo-
pher Armstrong, brother to John of Gilnockie and son
of Alexander, sixth lord of Maingertoun. Both John's

C[)e ^tm^t of O^atngertoun 189

son Christopher of Barngleish and his grandson Chris-
topher the Younger of Barngleish had possession of this
fortalice. (See Border Exploits , p. 94, edit. 18 12,
Hawick.)

When in 1547 the incursion was made on the west
Borders by Lord Wharton, who with 5,000 men
ravaged and overran Annandale, Nithsdale, and Gallo-
way, many of the inhabitants were compelled to re-
ceive the yoke of England. A few lists of the Border
families or clans more or less complete have been pre-
served, one of the earliest being a record of the barons
and clans of the West Border who submitted to the
English in this dismal year and were for some time in
subjection to the English government. (See Bell's
MS. in Nicolson's Introd. to History of Cumberland^ p.
65.) In "An Abstract of the Names of Gentlemen
and Principall Headsmen of the West Marches of Scot-
land, taken in Assurance by the Lord Wharton, who
made oath and delivered pledges to serve the King's
Majestic with such number of persons," the Arm-
strongs of **Liddesdell and Batable landcs" are men-
tioned as 300 strong. They, with the Ellwoodcs
(Elliotts), who numbered 74, and the Nixons, who
numbered 32, were "bound by oathe and pledge to
serve the king" of England. The following list enu-
merates the gathering force of the different families, —
the number of men the chiefs on this occasion could
bring into the field, not in every case of the same name.
(See Border Clans, p. 82. Laws of the Marches, vol. ii,
ff. 136 to 137, MS. Record Office.)

186 €!fytimit\t^ nt t^t %xm^ttonq0

Annerdale.

Laird of Kirkmighel 222

Laird of Rose [Ross] 165

Laird of Hempsfield [Charteris of Amisfield] . . . .163

Laird of Home Ends [Carruthers of Holmains] . . . 162

Laird of Wamfrey [Johnstone] 102

Laird of Dunwoddy [Johnstone] 44

The Lairds of Ncwby and Gratney [Johnstone] . . .122

Laird of Tinneli [Maxwell of Tinwald] 102

Patrick Murray 203

Christie Urwin [Irving] of Coveshawc ....... 102

Curthbcrt Urwin of Robgill 34

Urwens of Sennersack [Pennersacs] 40

Wat Urwen 20

Jeffrey Urwen 93

T. Johnston of Coites 162

Johnstones of Craggyland 37

Johnstones of Driesdell [Dryfesdale] 46

Johnstones of Malinshaw 65

Gawen Johnstone 31

Will Johnstone the Laird's brother 110

Roben Johnstone of Lochmaben 67

Laird of Gillersby [Gillenby] 30

Moffits 24

Bells of Tostints 142

Bells of Tindills 222

Johnstone of Crackburns 64

Sir John Lawson 32

Town of Annan 2Z

Roomes of Tordephe 32

NUbsdale.

Mr. Maxwell [The Master of Maxwell] . i,cxx> and more

Laird of Closeburn [Kirkpatrick] 403

Laird of Lag [Grierson] 203

^e l^ott^e of O^atngertoutt 187

Laird of Cransfield 27

Mr. Edward Creighton 10

Laird of Cowhill [Maxwell?]

Maxwell of Brackensidc and Vicar of Carlavcrick [Edward
Maxwell of Brackensidc and afterwards of Hills] . 310
Annerdale and Galway.

Lord Carlisle loi

Annerdale and Clidsdale.
Laird of Applegirth [Jardine] 242

Liddersdale and Debateable Land.

Armstrongs 300

Elwoods [Elliots] 74

Nixons 32

Galloway.

Laird of Dawybaylic 41

Orcherton iii

Carlisle 206

Loughenwar [Gordon?] 45

Tutor of Bombie [Maclellan] 140

Abbot of Newabbey 141

Town of Dumfries 201

Town of Kircubrie 2^

Tividale.

Laird of Drumlie 364

Caruthers 71

Trumbells 12

Eskdale.
Battisons and Thomsons 166

In "An Abstracte of the Scotesmcn bound and swornc to
serve the Kinges Majestic [of England] as apperethc by their
Bondes remaynyng in Recordc," vj*Tcix Armstrongs and 1 1
Grames under " Sandye Armcstrang and Adye of the Sheill "
arc mentioned. (State Papers, Scotland, Edward VI, vol. v,
No. 74, MS. Record Office.)

168 CI)ronicIejtf of tt^t %vm^ttimg0

Sir Thomas Carleton entered Scotland with a
■^^' * large force by the way of Cannobie, where
he halted, giving out that his army would desolate the
whole country by fire and sword if the inhabitants did
not submit in ten days to the authority of the King of
England. Carleton having certain information that the
Laird of Johnstone and his brother were now both
prisoners in England, and that the strong castle of
Lochwood, Johnstone's chief residence, was only
guarded by three young fellows, he with the help of
Alexander Armstrong, son of 111 Will, and his follow-
ers was conveyed secretly to Lochwood. Twelve of
the party scaled the wall and remained quietly hidden
in the court until the next morning, when they who
slept in the castle, dreading no harm, opened both the
outer and inner doors, so that the enemy rushed in and
got possession of the castle, where they found store of
excellent provisions.

Carleton wrote: "Sander Armstrong came and told
me he had a man called John Lynton, who was born
in the head of Annandale, near to the Loughwood, be-
ing the Laird of Johnstone's chief house, and the said
Laird and his brother were taken prisoners not long
before, and were remaining in England. It was a fair
large tower, able to lodge all our company safely, with
a barnekin hall, kitchen, and stables, all within the
barnekin." Another account relates: "The garrison
was easily overpowered, and Carleton put Sander Arm-
strong in the tower to keep it and then proceeded to
Moffat where he ordered the people to swear allegiance
to Edward VI, Armstrongs and Grahms accompanying

^I)e f^miHt of sr^aingertoun 189

him." This feud between the Armstrongs and John-
stones was started October 14th, 1527, by the murder
of Meikle Sym, and was encouraged by Maxwell the
warden. In this case the Armstrongs took advantage
of the war between the two countries to settle old
scores with the Johnstones. [Border Exploits^ p. 341,
edit. 1 8 1 2, Hawick. Hist. Families of Dumfriesshire^
p. 94.)

Extract of letter from Thomas lord Wharton to the Lord
Protector and Council, of 7th April, 1 547 : " Sondre of the
surname of Yrwen [Irwins] offred unto me to serve his majeste
with two hundreth men, ther frendes ; And ther overtur also,
that excepte the bodies of the lard Johnston and John Max-
well, they wold compell all the dwellers from the kynges
majestes possession unto the town of Dumfres, to serve his
highness, yf they myght have sume enterteignement, being,
as they said, in povertye. The lard Johnston repayred from
the governour to his house at Loughwod, the ij"*^ Aprill, who
ymedyatlye called afor hym the said pryncepall men, and told
them that he hard of thyr sute to me, and mayd many wordes
to them of the gret rewardes the governour wold gyve them
for their hurtes done uppon them ; and expreslye said that the
governour with the holle power of the realme wold be at the
Langholme befor Law Sundaye, soo that they shuld have no
cause to maik suet unto me: Theropon argumentes aroos be-
tween them and hym, and dyvers of them, lyk the natur of their
contremen, inclyned to hym, and others contynewed ther suet,
and remembrynge the untruethe of the lard Johnston, who in
the begenyne of the warres maid suet and overture serve the
kinges majeste our lait most noble sovereign lord, and un-
trewlye refused the same, and sythen ane ennemye agaynst this
realme, I caused upon Shyr Thursdaye, in the morning, know-
ing hym to be at home, to trap hym if I colde, fortye lyght

190 <rf)romcIejBt of tfje ^Urmirtrongjtf

horsmen of Langholmc to burn a town called Wamfraye, halfe
a millc from his house of Loughwod, and appoynted the Capi-
taign of Langholm with the rest of the garryson to lye in am-
bushe for the relefe of those ; and thinking that the lard Johns-
ton would come to the furst to vyew them, and so he dyd, and
pursued them sharplye to ther ambushe, and he being an over-
partye to them boothe, as I thought he wold, and gyve hym a
mor boldnes to peruse thosse tryed men thynkyng them to
have no mor reliefe, whiche he dyd ; and the garyson beinge
princypall men, defended them verry straytlye, he tooke dyvers
of the garyson, and persued the capitaign and others thinkynge
to have all. I appoynted my son Henry Wharton and John Mus-
grave, with the nombre of thre hundrethe men, to lye in a sec-
ond ambushe, who at ther tyme brooke, and ther gave the over-
thraw to the Scotes, and haithe taken prisoners the lard John-
ston, the abbot Salsyde [James Johnston] his brother, the lard
of Corrye, the lard of Knok, the lard of Gramilton, the lard of
Dunwedie, and his eldest sone Gawen Johnston, with others
horsmen and footmen to the nombre of seven score and above.
Ther was viij Scotes slayne, and many hurte. Ther er four
I'^ngiishemen hurte, never ane slayne nor takyn. They
brought awaye dy verse parcellis of goodes, nolte and sheipe ;
the prisoners were takyne xiijj mylles within Scotland, from
Langholme. Archebald Artncstrange^ young lard of Manger ton
of Lydysdaill^ is the taker of the larde Johnston. I have hym,
the abbot, and the princypall persouns, with me in the town
of Carlisle, this Schire Thursdaye nyghte, yt may please your
lordshipes to command how the same shalbe ordred. The Kinges
Majeste now haithe the Maxwelles and Johnstons his highnes
prisoners, who haith borne a gret reulle of the west partes of
Scotland. P. S. The larde of Johnston hadd three speres
brooken upon hyme, and with one of them is hurt in the but-
tok." (State Papers, Domestic, Addenda, Edward VI, vol. i.
No. 10, MS. Record Office.)

Extract of a Letter from Sir Thomas Horcloft to the Lord

€f)e f^m^t of i^t^atngertoun 191

Protector, Newcastle, 1 6th April, 1 548 : " And for the jorney
that my Lord Wharton made in Scotland went not so clcre
with us as I have heard hit reportyt, for we had taken prisoners
four hundryth of our men, and four hundryth gelayngis and
carege horsys takyn at the leest, and at my comyng away from
Carlyll not delyvert, whech hath not bene sene affore, but the
Scottes were in a grete commforth that jorney, nor I wyll not
wryte unto your grace the nomber by tenne thowsand men for
shame that our men wold axe to goo unto Dumffreys withall
at my arryvall, for that I fynd theym myche dyscumforth for
the takyng of theyr servantes and fryndes with the losse of
theyr horsys. I assure your grace my lord warden handlyt the
thyng verey honerably and wytylye, or els hyt cold not have
bene so well apon our part as it was, for the treason was grette,
and my lord warden gate knowlege over nyght of the same,
and callyt the gentlymen, and made thym prevey to the same.
Knowyng his band to be bygge inoyghe and the exployt nere
hand, and gave the aventur, and yet wer there some gentyl-
men of honest houses dyd not so well that day as they myght.
I assure your grace, Jack Musgrave and the kinges tennents
of Bucastell, and Thome the lord, and the surnames of Armstronges
of Lethersdaky dyd serve well that day, or hyt had bene wrong with
the warden. John Maxwell was well rewardyt with the doghter
and heyr of the Lord Herrys for that jorney, whech is countyt
to be of as grete landes as the Lord Maxwell, your grace shall
understand the comyng in of John Maxwell, and layng hys
pleygges was meanyng nothyng lesse then to serve any trew
part wyth Ingland, the sayd John had bene a sewter to the
govener affore for the doghter of the Lord Herrys, and the
govener dyd say him nay of her, and then the vycar of Car-
laverook drew appoyntment with my lord warden to bryng hym
and his fryndes in to Ingland, and the govener persavyng West
borders of Scotland lyke to be Inglyshe, drew a poyntment
with Dumlanryck and the said vycare of Carlaverook to wurk
the treason, and to come home, and he shuld be rewardyt with

102 ct)ronicIejB( of t^e %tnt0ttimq^

sayd doghter, as here I say. Syns my comyng from Carlyll
the vycar of Carlaverock hath suffryd, whech wyll cause the
harder warre appon the borders, for the Maxwelles myght not
well spare hys hedd, for he had the grettes wytt and inventyun
of all the Maxwelles." (State Papers, Edward VI, Domestic,
Addenda, vol. ii. No. 59, MS. Record Office.)

« Thomas Armstrong, seventh lord of Mainger-
•^ ' toun, called the Gude Lard, son of Alexander
(see 1 500, 1 5 1 o, 1 54 1 ), in all likelihood died in this year.
The following bond, directed to Farnihirst, he first signs
with his son Archibald in the usual way, but apparent-
ly without response. In the second, an appeal for a
sight of his brother George, he adds, "delyvered with
sped. By yours at all poor. Thom lard of Manger-
ton"; meaning that he was in poor health, and per-
haps his last sickness, for shortly afterwards, in the third
bond, Archibald his son and heir signs alone as "lard
of Mayngertoun," and the name of Thom the Lard
does not occur again. It appears as though he knew
that these were his last days, and desired, like Jacob of
old, to gather his kin around him and deliver to them
a parting word. Indeed, the lives of the old Border
chiefs remind us of Israel in many respects.

Bon^ by Thomas Armstrong of M dinger toun and Archibald his eld-
est son to enter two of the Forester prisoners to the Laird of
Ferny hirst y dated ist January ^ circa i^^S-^g. ^

"Sir, we commend ws *:o yow, and quhar ye haff presoners
in yowr hand, Alen Foster and Johne Foster, we pray yow, as
hoowr traist es in yow, to lait ws tham to boros quholl Candel-
mes next, and heir we bend ws by hoowr werten to inter the
forsaid Alen Foster and Jhone P'oster, within the iern yetts of

'•mmmmmmmm.

€I)e l^ottjtfe of fil^aingertouii 193

the Fairneharst quholl full intres be tan of tham by yow, or
Thomas Keir your son, or your assannais, as we ar trow gen-
tell men ; and this ye do as hoowr trast es in yow, not elles, as
now, hot God Allmichty haff yow in his keepin ; the first day
of Januar.

" To an honest gentellman Jon Keir, lard of Farnhast.

" By Thorn Armystrand lard of Mangerton, and Archbald
his son, wit hoowr hands at the pen."

{History of Liddesdale, Appendix xlvi.
Fernyhirst MSS. at Newbattle, vol. 1 505-1 597.)

Bond by Thorn Armstrong of Maingertoun and Archibald his eld-
est Sony to enter certain prisoners to the Laird of Fernyhirsty
dated 1st February y circa 1548-^^.

" Sir, we commend ws to yow, and quhar ye haff presoners
in your dungeon, howr servands, we pray yow for to lait ws
Gorde Armystrand callet Gayvt [Gaywit] hem and Gorde his
son, and Thom Henderson, and Alen Fostr and Thom Fos-
ter to boros apon iiij dayes warning, and heir we bind ws be this
howr writing and oblegaytion, bot frayed or gyll, to inter the
foresaid Gorde Armystrang and Gorde his son, Thom Hender-
son, Alen Fostr, Thom Foster within the eirn yetts of the
Farnhest, quhill lefull intres be tan on thame by Jon Keir, lard
of the same, or Thomas Keir his son, aperand air, or there
asignas, be the fayth and treuth in howr bodeis, as we ar trew
gentell men, and thes ye do as howr trast is in yow nocht elles
as neow, bot God Almichty preserff yow to honor, the first day
of Fabruar.

" To ane honest gentell man Jon Keir, lard of Farnhast, be
the band delyvered with sped.

"Dyvours at all poor, THOM ARMSTRANG lard of
Mangerton, with my hand at pen.

"Archbald his son aperand air with my hand at he pen."
{History of Liddesdaky Appendix XLVI I.
Fernyhirst MSS. at Newbattle, vol. 1 505-1 597, No. 9.)

«3

194 €^xtmk\t0 of t^t %vm^ttimsii

Bond by Archibald Armstrongy the young laird of Mangertony to
enter John Cragall a prisoner to the Laird of Ferny hirst y dated
14th February y 1348-4^.

" Be it kend till all men by this present wrytyng, me Archi-
bald, young lard of Mangerton, to bynd and oblis me, by the
faith and trowth of my body, to honorabl men, the laird of
Fairny hirst, Mr. George Ker his cusyng, to enter Jone Cragall
on the fyrst Sunday in Lentryn nyxt to cum, within the
Fairnyhirst, and thare to remane quhill lawfill entres be takyn
of hym, by the saidds laird of Farnyhirst and Mr. George, or
thair assyngnais, without frawd or gill, under the pane of one
hundreth libs, styrlynge: In witnes heirof I haif subscrywit
this present band, with my hand at the pen, the xiiij day of
February in the yeir of God m.v^xlviij yeris, befor thir witnis,
Dik Henresonn, Sym Cragill, and Sir William Kirk, chapellan
and notar publict.

"ARCHIBALD ARMSTRANG, young lard of Mayn-
gertoun, with my hand at the pen."

(From the Fernyhirst MSS. at
Newbattle, vol. 1 505-1 597, No. 13.)

Thomas the Lard had six brothers: John of Gilnoc-
kie and Christopher of Langholm, whose relationship
is given in "The Ballad of Johnie Armstrang";
George, mentioned by Lesley as the young brother
whom King James V pardoned in 1530; Alexander,
sometimes called Andro, mentioned in 1495 ^"^ H9S»
and stated by Leonard A. Morrison the historian to
have been one of the brothers; Robert, mentioned in
1495 ^"^ H9^» named by John Elder of Canonbie as
one of the brothers; and William, mentioned in 1495.
These are the seven sons of Alexander represented on
later shields by the seven branches of the oak. (1500,
1510.)

€1^ ^mx^t of S^amgertoun

195

Thomas had five sons, as follows: Archibald the
eighth lord of Maingertoun ; John of Tinnisburn,
called in the ballad Jock of Puddingburn and the Gude
Laird's Jock, mentioned in the years 1562, 1569,
158 1, 1586, 1587, 1590, 1597; Richard of Dryup,
mentioned in 1586, 1587, 1596, who took a promi-
nent part in the rescue of Kinmont Will; Thomas,
mentioned as one of the sons by Leonard A. Morrison;
and Simon of Tinnisburn, named in 1539, 1541, 1562,
for whom we also give the same authority.

The above arms are either those of Thomas seventh
lord of Maingertoun or his son Archibald. The cloud
in the Kerr manuscript pertains to the prophecy of
Macbeth's ending, and illustrates the steam rising from
the caldron of the witches. These arms are described
in the Harleian manuscripts, vol. 2120, p. 138, as those

106 €l)ronicIejtf of t^e %vm0tmnQii

of "Armstrong of Maingertoune." The same arms
were borne by the family which possessed the property
in Ewesdale. They appear on a monument, in Ewes
churchyard, to John Armstrong of Sorbie, who died in
1685. They are also mentioned in 1630 as the Brook-
boro arms, but there is no cloud upon the Brookboro
shield. Similar arms occur on a much defaced stone,
dated 1733, which till lately was to be seen in Cano-
bie churchyard.

In tits year Ninian /Armstrong and Archibald Nixon signed a bond
to enter two of the Foresters prisoners to the Laird of Ferny-
hirst y dated 18 th October, 154S.

" Be it kend tyl! all men be this present writing, that we,
Ryn/ane Armstrong and Arche Nicsoun, bynds and obiesses
ws, conjunctlie and severlie, be the faith and trewcht of our bodyis
to ane honourable man, Jhone Ker, lard of Farnherst, Thorn
Ker his sone, and Maister George Ker his cwsyng, to enter
Alane Fostar and Thorn Fostar as haill man and feyr upon
Santt Androiss day nyxt cum, within the irne yetts [iron gates]
of Farnherst, and thair to remane quhill lawfiill entres be
takyne of thame he the said lard of Farneherst or his assyng-
nais, without frad or gyll, under the pane of twa hundreth
angell nowbylls. In wytness heirof we haif subscrivit our
names with our hands at the pen the xviij day of October, the
yeir of God m. v'xiviij yeirs, before ther wytnes, Archie Armi-
strang, George Armistrang, et cet.

" We Rcn/.en Armisstrang and Arche Nixsown bynddes ws

and oblcsys ws be the faythis of hour bodeys for to fulfyl a! the

conditions under pain of 200 angel nobles, with their hands at

the pen before divers witnesses.

" RKN/KN ARMSSTRANG with my hand at the pen.
«' ARSCHIK NIXSON with my hand at the pen."

(See History of Liddesdale, Appendix No. XLV.
From the Fernyhirst MSS. at Newbattle, vol. 1505-1597.)

€l^c l^ouj^e of a^atngertoun 197

Sander Armstrong, who had assisted Lord
-^-^ ' Carlton in the last war, declared to the Eng-
lish warden in 1550 that he "must become a Scotsman"
if he was not protected against Lord Maxwell. [Hist,
Families of Dumfriesshire ^ p. 104.)

Another record states that in this year a long corre-
spondence took place between Lord Dacre and the
Privy Council of England concerning Sandye Arm-
strong, a partisan of England and an inhabitant of the
Debateable Land, who threatened to become a Scottish-
man if he was not protected by the English warden
against the Lord of Maxwell. (See Introduction to
Nicholson and Burn's History of Cumberland and West'
mor eland. )

Lord Maxwell therefore declared he would march
against the men of the Debateable Land, not as Eng-
lishmen but as Scottish rebels, and lay waste their pos-
sessions. Lord Dacre, the opposite warden, acted with
equal spirit and prudence. He drew out the forces of
his March upon the verge of the acknowledged posses-
sions of England, thus affording countenance, but no
active asssistance, to the men of the Debateable ground.
This fierce and intractable set of people, chiefly of the
clans of Armstrong and Graeme, seeing themselves well
supported, pricked and skirmished with Lord Maxwell
on his entering their district, and took one or two of
his followers, by which repulse, backed by the good
countenance shewn by the English warden, the expedi-
tion of Lord Maxwell was disconcerted. This brief
campaign is mentioned in the journal of King Edward
IV. {Border Antiquities.^

198 4!^nnitU0 of tf^t %tm0tnnisii

In this year Maingertoun was lost again, there being
a "Gift of the Non-entry of the Lands of Mangerton
to Walter Scott of Branxholm, Knight," calendared
February 3d, 1550. Nevertheless the family regained
the estate and dwelt there throughout the century. The
document contains a slight description of the castle.

"Ane letter to Walter Scot of Branxholm, knycht, his airis
and asslgnais, ane or ma, off the nonentres, males, fermes,
proffittis and dewiteis, of the landis of Mangertoun, with the
tour, fortalice, mylnis, multuris, tennentis, tennandriis, and ser-
vice of fre tennentis therof, and ther pertinentis, lyand in the
lordschip of Liddisdaill and schirefdome of Roxburgh, of all
yeris and termes bigane that the samyn hes bene in our sover-
ane ladyis handis or hir predecessors, as superiouris therof, be
ressoun of nonentres, sen the deceis of umquhile Sir David
Scot of Branxhelm, knycht, or ony uthir last lauchfull posses-
sor therof, imediat tennent to hir grace, or hir predecessors, of
the samyn : And siclike of all yeris and termes to cum, etc.,
with the releif therof quhen it salhappen, with power, etc. At
Edinburgh, the third day of Fcbruar, the yer forsaid 1550-51."
Per signaturam. (Reg. Sec. Sig., vol. xxiv, f. 54.)

On the 3d of April, 1551, Sir Walter Scot of Branx-
holm, knight, received a commission from Mary Queen
of Scots appointing him keeper of Liddesdale. [Scotts
of Buccleuch. )

In February, 1552-53, the chiefs of the Armstrongs
and Elliots were ordered to appear and declare what
surnames they would answer for. [History of Liddesdale.)

On August 22d, 1556, there was a bond made by
Ector Armstrang of the Hairlaw, Georde Armstrang of
Powterlampst, Thom Armstrang of the Chengylls, Mar-

€|)e f$ou^t of 2l^in0ertotm 199

tine Elliott, and Archc Nykson of the Stcill, to enter
Will Nyksoun within the iron gates of Fernyhirst to
John Kerr. (Fernyhirst MSS. at Newbattle, vol. 1537-
1607, No. 22.)

On the 7th of January, 1556-57, there was a bond
made by William Elliot, Hector Armstrong, Martin
Elliot, and Archie Nixon, to enter one of the Nixons a
prisoner to the Laird of Fernyhirst. (Fernyhirst MSS.
at Newbattle, vol. 1 537-1 607, No 24.)

On 24th January, 1557, Sir John Maxwell

■^ -^ ' ' of Terregles, knight, granted to " Christie
Armstrang, called John's Christe, the teynds of the par-
ish of Stabillgortoun," for which Armstrong undertook
to pay yearly the sum of viij lb. Scotch as long as he was
in possession, and resign the same when called upon to
do so. [History of Liddesdale^ p. loi.)

Warrant by Sir John Maxwell of Terregles^ Knighty to Christo-
pher Armstrongy to uplift the teinds of Stapilgorton, dated 2^th
January y 1557-58.

" FoRSAMEKLE as I, Sir Jhone Maxwell of Teregles, Knycht,
hes licent, and be thir present licencis, my fameilar frend, Chris-
tie Artnstrangy callit Jhons Christe, to intromet with the haill
teyndes of the perroche of Stabillgortoun, and to tak up, bruik
and joys the samyn, yeirlie, ay and quhill he be dischargit
thairof, be me, my aris or assignais; the said Christie payand
yeirly, ay and quhill he be dischargit, to me, my aris and as-
signais the sum of viij lb. good and usuale money of Scot-
land, at Lames ; and the said Christie byndis and oblis
him, his airis and assignais, that quhat tyme or how sone
it sail pleis me or my airis or assignais to discharge thame of
the intromissione with the teynds of the perochin of Sta-
billgortone, that he, his said airis or assignais, sail leif the

200 Ct^tonitU^ of ti^e Slrmjtftnmgjer

saidis teyndes with — and kyndes, to me, my airis or assignais,
but ony clamer of thame or any utheris in thair namis, but
fraude or gyle. In witnes heirof, I and the said Christie, for
fullfilling of the premises, hes subscrivit thir presentes with our
handis, at Dumfreis, the 24 of Januarie, the yeir of God m.v'
1557, beffoir thir witnes. Sir Jhone Bryce, Jhone Downy, etc.

Jhone Maxwell."

(See History of Liddesdaky Appendix LXI. From the origi-
nal at Everingham. John's Christie did not sign.)

Bond of Manrent by Christopher Armstrongs callit Johnis ChristCy
to John Lord Maxwell and Sir John Maxwell of TerregleSy his
Tutor and Governor^ dated 24th January ^ 1557-58.

" Be it kend till all men be thyr present lettres, me, Christell
Armestrang, callit Johnis Christe, for to be bound and oblist,
and be the tennour heirof, and faith and treuith in my bodie,
lelie [loyally] and treulie byndis and oblisis me and myne airis
to ane nobill lord, Johne lord Maxwell, and to Sir Johne Max-
veil of Terreglis, Knycht, his tutour and governour; forsame-
kill as the said lord, with advis and consent of his said tutour,
hes grantit and gevin to me and my airis the males of all and
hnill the landis quhilkis ar contenit in ane band maid be
umquhile Johne Armestrangy my fader ^ to umquhile Robert lord
Maxwell, gudschour to the said Johne now Lord Maxvell, con-
form to the said band, heirfoir I, the said Christell, bindis and
oblisis me and my airis in manrenth and service to the said
John lord Maxvell and his airis, foir ewir mair, and to his said
tutour induring the tyme of his tutorie, first and befoir all
utheris, myne allegiance to our soverane lady the quenis grace
and hir dearest moder, Marie, regent of this realm, allanerly
excepit ; and to be trewe, gud, and leill servandis to my said
lord and his tutour, and be redy to do thame service, baytht in
peace and weyr, with all my kyn, freyndis, and servandis that I

€i)e f^ovL^t of St^omgertoun 201

may and dow to rais, and be and to my said lordis airis for
cwir, and to his said tutour for the tyme, and sail talc their trew
and plane part in all maner of actionis at myne uthir power;
and sail nothir wit, heir, nor se the said lord nor his tutour
skaith, lak, nor schame, nor dishonour, hot we sail stop and lat
the samin, and geif we dowe nocht lett the samin we sail varne
thame therof in all possabill haist; and gief it happinis me, the
said [Christell] Armestrang [In Minstrelsy of the Scottish Bor-
derSy vol. i, p. 416, Christopher Armstrong is called Johnis
Pope] or myne airis, to faill in oure said service and manrent
ony maner or way to our said lord or his tutour, as God forbeit
we do, than and in that cais the gift of the males of the landis
maid to my said umquhile fader and me to be of nane availl,
force, nor effect, bot the said lord and his airis and tutour foir-
said to have fre regres and ingres to the males of the samin
landis, but ony pley or impediment; to the fulfilling and kep-
ing of all and sindry the premisis I bynd and oblisis me and
my airis foirsaids to the said Johne lord Maxvel and his airis,
and to his said tutour for the tyme for ewir mayr, be the faithis
and treuithis in our bodeis, but fraude or gyle: In witnes to
the quhilk thing, to thir present lettres of manrent, subscrivit
with my hand at the pen, led be the notar under written, my
seill is affixit at Dumfreis, the xxiij day of January, the yeir of
God j"'.v' fifty-sevin yeris, befoir thir vitnes, Mungo Maxvel,
Johne Dougalsone, and Harbert Andersone, notar, with utheris
diveris.

"I, Christell Armestrang, with my hand at the pen led by
the notar under vritten.

" Ita est Harbertus Andersone, notarius ad premissa de man-
dato dicti Christoferi manu propria scriptsit.

" This vordis, viz. males, put in above the heid and inter-
linit, is put in at the first tyme be me, the said notar.

" Harbartus Andersone, notarius ad premissa manu propria."
(From the Book of Carlaverock, vol. ii, p. 479, No. 102.)

202 €f^nnit\t0 of t^e ^Crmjertrongjsr

On May 14th, 1557, there was a bond made by
" Ektor Armstrong of the Hairlaw, Thome Armstrang
of the Cheyngillis, Syme Armstrang, sone to Ryngand
Armstrang," to the Laird of Fernyhirst for the amount
of a bill filed against Arche Niksone. (Fernyhirst MSS.
at Newbattle, vol. 1 505-1 597, No. 24.)

On September 21st, 1557, there was a bond of surety
made by Ektor Armstrang, and Ryngan Armstrang's
sons, Thome and Syme, for presenting the person of
Will Nikson, called Clement's Will, to enter with the
Laird of Fernyhirst. [Antiquities of the Border.)

In 1557 a new war broke out, in which encounters
on the Borders were, as usual, numerous, and with va-
ried success. In some of these the too-famous Bothwell
is said to have given proofs of his courage, which was
at other times very questionable. He was at this
time Lord of Liddesdale and keeper of the Hermitage
Castle, but had little effective power over that country
and was twice defeated by the Armstrongs. [Border
History f p. 584.)

There was carved on a stone, built into the

^•^^* tower of Whithaugh when that building was
rebuilt by Lancelot Armstrong, his name, together with
the picture of a bearskin shield, upon which were the
heraldic charges, a chevronel couped dividing three
acorns; under these bearings within the field was a de-
vice consisting of the numerals 1559, the figure of a
Danish sword pointing upward, and, in the dexter
base, the name Symon preceded by other letters now
lost. This stone has already been explained and illus-
trated under the subject of Traditions of Siward. It

€i)e ^ou^t of la^amgertoutt 203

now forms the keystone of the arch over the entrance
to the present residence of Whithaugh. Other arms
of the family were registered in 1672 by Francis of
Whithaugh, a descendant.

, On July 1st there was a contract made be-
-^ * tween Sir John Maxwell of Terregles, knight,
tutor to John lord Maxwell, and Christopher Armstrong
of Barnegleis, in regard to the keeping of the fortalice
and place of Langholm, the substance of which was
that "the said Christe Armstrang of Barnegleis sail
have the use and keiping of the hous and place of Lang-
holme, and eftir him his airis maill, to the behuif of
the said Schir Jhone and his airis, for the quhilk caus
the said Schir Johne and his airis sail pay to the said
Christe and his airis, in tyme of peax, the soum of xl
pund usuale mony of Scotland, in name of feale, and in
tyme of wer the said Christe and his airis sail have for
the keiping of the said hous and place of Langholme
as salbe thocht reasonble be foure honest gentlemen."
(Book of Carlaverock, vol. ii, p. 480, No. 102.)

This document was witnessed by Schir James Max-
well, Mungo Maxwell, Robert Elliot, Alexander Arm-
strong, Hew [Herbert] Armstrang, Robert Armstrang,
Quhintene Hendersone, Symine Hendersone, James
Geddes, Jhone Maxwell of Lytle [B]ar — [this name
worn away.]

Christopher of Langholm, called John's Christe, son
of Gilnockie, had three sons. They were John of
Holihous, Christopher the Younger of Barngleish and
Langholm, and Robert called Rowe. Christe's Will
and Christopher of Aughingill were also sons of Christo-

204 €f^nmitUtt of tf)e ^rmi^ongj^

phcr of Langholm, and it is through these two that
most of the Armstrongs in Ireland descend. Barn-
gleish was a castle in Annandale. Holihous was Gil-
nockie's Tower. Aughingill adjoined Barngleish.
[Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border ^ Lond., edit. 1868, p.
259. Border Exploits y edit. 1812, p. 292. Terrewinney
Records. See 1528, 1545, 1547, ^SS7* ^5^3 '^ 1566,
1582, 1586, 1597, 1630, 1650.)

About this time we frequently hear of Simon of Tin-
nisburn. Archibald, eighth lord of Maingertoun, had
a brother called Simon of Tinnisburn, "Serjeant of the
Netherward of Liddisdale." Simon had a son called
"Sim's Thom." [English and Scottish Popular Ballads.^

Several of the names in the following bonds are cele-
brated in song and tradition. Maitland tells us " He is
weil kend, John of the Syde." Christie the Bull seems
to have conducted himself in a manner contrary to
good government, to the consternation of his near rela-
tive Simon of Tinnisburn, officer of the law, and his
brothers and cousins, who were themselves not possessed
of all the social attributes her majesty's subjects should
have been endowed with. Small wonder that Dick o'
the Cow, the Cumberland clown, upon coming to Pud-
dingburn, greeted the host with a "Weil may ye be
my Gude Laird's Jock! But the deil bless all your
cumpanie."

Bond by certain Armstrongs and others to enter one of their Clan a
prisoner to the Laird of Ferny hirst, dated 22d September , 1562.

" Be it kend tell all men be this present wryteng, that we,
Lancie Armstrang, lard of Whithawche, Sanny Armstrang of
Tenesburne, offesear of the law partes of Ledisdaell, Johne

€t^t f$ifu^t of Sl^aingmoun 209

[Jock o' the Syde] Armstrang of the Syde — Elwot of the
Weds, Wat Trombull of Howha, becumes sucrty, etc., to
enter Christy Armstaring, callit Chresty the bwll, to Thomas
Ker of Farnyharst, knycht, heis heirs and assigns, upon the
I St of January following, within the iron y[ettis] of the Ferni-
hirst, under pain of 500 angell nowbeles, 22 of September
1562." [Witnesses: Sym Armstrang younger, Jhon Grame in
Cannabe, John Armstrang, son to the lard of Mangerton, Jhon
Armstrang of Quhithaw, Alexr. Armstrang son to Rowe.]
(From the Fernyhirst MSS. at Newbattle, vol. 1505-1597,
No. 39.)

BofJii by certain of the Armstrongs and others to enter one of their
Clan a prisoner to the Laird of Fernihirstj dated fanuaryy
1562-63.

" Be it kend tyll all men be this present wryting, that we.
Lance Armstrang, lard of Quhythaucht [Whithaugh], Sym
Armstrang, offecer of the nayther waird of Lyddesdayll, Mar-
tyn Ellott, sun to Robin Eliot now of the Reydheucht, Johne
Armstrang of the Syd, Wat Trumbull in Howa, byndes and
oblisis ws and our ayrris, conjunctlie and severalye, be the fayth
and trewtht of our bodyis, to ane honorabill man, Thomas Ker
of Farniherst, knycht, and his ayrris, that we sail enter Christe
Armstrang, callit Christe the bwll, upone viij dayis wairning,
and his entre to be wythin the irn yetts of the Farnihyrst, and
ther to remayne quhyll lawfull entre be takin of hym be the
said lard of Farnihirst, his ayris or assyngnayis wythout frawd
or gyill, wnder the pane of fyif hundreth angell nowbills: In
witness heirof, we haif subscrywit thir present bands wyth our
hands at the pene wythin this moneth of Janwar, in the yeyr
of God ane thowsand v hundreth thre scoyr twa yeirrs, befoyr
thir witnes, Wilyem Armstrang, son to Rinyen Armstrang,
Thom Armstrang, son to Sym Armstrang, Jhon Armstrang,
son to the lord of Mangertoun, Andro [Sande] Armstrang, son
to Will of the Schyngls [Gingles].

206 €t)ronicIejtf of t^t ^ntijettrongjtf

" Lance Armstrang, wyth my hand at the pen, lard of Quyi-

thep [Whithaugh].

" Sym Armstrang, wyth my hand at the pen, officer of the

law part of Liddisdayl.

" Jhon Armstrang, of the Syd, wyth my hand at the pen be

Herbert [torn away]."

(From the Ferny hirst MSS. at
Newbattle, vol. 1 505-1 597, No. 41.)

Lord William Howard, warden of the West Marches,
succeeded to Naworth Castle and a large domain an-
nexed to it in right of his wife Elizabeth, sister of
George Lord Dacre, who died without heirs male in
the eleventh year of Queen Elizabeth. The name of
Belted Will Howard is still famous in tradition. He
perished on the scaffold, June 2d, 1562, for his strong
attachment to Mary Queen of Scots. In his diary were
found these names:

Simon Armstrong of Tweeden.

John Armstrong, alias Long Jock.

Thomas Armstrong, Edward's Thom.

John Armstrong, alias Jock Stowlugs.

Alexander Armstrong, of yc Hill Sibiness.

Thom Armstrong, Geordies Thom of Willavey. [A small
district in Bewcastle through which the Hartleburn takes its
course.]

Thom Armstrong, Souter's Thom.

Launce, Whithaugh, fil'. Franc, do, in Scotland.

Rinion Armstrong, Gowdy [executed at Carlisle].

Andrew Armstrong, Michall's Andrew, de la Bush [executed
at Jedburgh, 1624].

William Armstrong, Souter's Rinion's Willie, Clericus [exe-
cuted at Newcastle, 1632].

Ci)e i^ou^e of a^asnjjertoutt 207

Another list in his diary, with private marks under
heading Cumberland, contains the following names:

Anthony Armstrong sen to Williaway, Gent.
William Armstrong alias Andrews Willie.
Jock Stowlugs of Williava.

(See Border Exploits^ edit. Carlisle, 1841, p. 289.)

The arms of the Armstrongs of Corby in Lincoln-
shire were gules, three dexter arms vambraced. The
crest of the Armstrongs of Lincolnshire was a dexter
arm vambraced, in armour, hand ppr. Their pedigree
ending in this year was as follows: Robert Armstrong
married Jane, daughter of John Burton of Burton.
They had one son, William Armstrong, who married
the daughter and coheiress of Thomas Ricard. William

had a son Thomas, who married a daughter of

Eldred. They had a son John Armstrong of Corby,
who married Joane Stonesby, third daughter and co-
heiress. John had issue two sons, Thomas, who mar-
ried Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Baude of Somerby,
and William. Thomas had two sons, Francis of Corby,
1562, who married Margaret, daughter of William
Ermine of Osgoodby in Lincolnshire, and Michael.
Francis had six children, Bartholomew, William,
Thomas, Robert, Jane, and Elizabeth. Bartholomew
married, first, Katherine, daughter of John Chomley;
second, Anne, daughter of John Bushby. In 1634
Edward Armstrong, when twenty-two years of age and
unmarried, signed his pedigree for four generations,
commencing with Francis Armstrong of Corbye. The
arms of the family were similar to those of the Thorpe

208 4tf^mMt0 of t^t SUntijmong^

family, Nottinghamshire; sec 1377. (MS. Visitation
at the College of Arms.)

>. One of the most important records of these
"^ "^ Chronicles is found in a military report on

, , the West March and Liddesdale with refer-
"^ * ence to the possibility of the occupation of
that portion of Scotland by an English army, prepared
and illustrated by an English official between the years
1563 and 1566. The original of this interesting manu-
script is among the Cottonian collection in the British
Museum. (Titus, C. xii, fF. 76 to 87.)

"There Adjoyneth to Annerdale, Esdele,

WawchopeDale, Ewisdale, and the Debatable
Landes of Englonde and Scotlande, inhabited by the
Bateis, whereof Awlie Batie principall, Thomsones,
Lytilles, Nobilles, some Grahmes in the Debatabill, and
alsoo Armestronges, of whiche Sande Armestronge and
his seaven sonnes, now Yngles, and haitht pencion of
Englonde, and Johnes Christie Armestrong of the
Staikhewght, ewill Engles and . . . , albeitht the
late King James hanged Jone Armestrong, his father.
Thei wilbring besyde Sande Armestronge, whoo ys
Engles, as said ys, to a fraye furtht of there cuntrees,
. . . j<^ horsemen.

" Liddisdale is inhabyted by the Armestronges,
whereof foure branches: Sym the larde that King
James hanged, and Dawe [Davy or David] the lady
his brother one: the oulde larde of Mangerton tuoo;
the house of Ralston three; and oulde Hectour yett on

€f^t ^tnmt of a^aingertoun 209

lyvc the fourtc. There was alsoo in Lyddisdale oulde
Robyn Elwood, young Robyn his sonc, and the rest of
the Elwoodcs, whoo was alwayes cwill Engles, and
hang upoun Boclcwcht. But these tuo ar dedc, and
the surnames of boetht dekeyetht. I have sene all these
dales except the Elwoodes serve worthelie in Englonde,
and yett might, being wyeslie handled. Thei wilbring
furtht of there cuntree to a interpryse, . . . ij horse-
men."

The four houses referred to in this report were the
parental one of Maingertoun and its three following
branches, Whithaugh, Ralston (more generally called
The Gingles), and the house of Ailmure. (See 1376,
1500, 1 541, I543> I547» 1590-) The old house was dis-
tinguished at this time by Archibald the eighth lord of
Maingertoun and son of Thom the Gude Lard. Alex-
ander, called Sande, was the son of 111 Will, founder of
the house of The Gingles. Sande had seven sons; they
were Lard Ninian of Raltoun, William of Kinmont,
Christopher o* the Gingles, Thom o* the Gingles, Hec-
tor o* the Gingles, Andro o' the Gingles in Kirktown,
and Archie o' the Gingles. From the fact that the feud
with the Johnstones was led by 111 Will's Sande, and so
bitterly, we surmise that Mickle Sym, killed in 1527,
was also a brother. (See 1593.) Sym the Lard and
David his brother represented the house of Whithaugh,
showing that this was not the first generation of that
line, but more likely the second as illustrated upon the
Gillside Stone. (Roxburgh Collection, under Kinmont
Will. Monnipenny's List. Border Exploits, t6\x.. i%iz,
'4

210 Cljroniclejtf of tf)e %tmsnttmQ^

Hawick, p. 340. Fernyhirst MSS. at Newbattle, vol.
1537 to 1607. English and Scottish Popular Ballads^
under Kinmont Will. Newbie MS.)

, The unhappy match betwixt Henry Darnley

"^ "^* and his sovereign Mary Queen of Scots led to
new dissensions on the Border. The Homes, Kerrs,
and other East Marchers hastened to support the Queen.
But the Armstrongs in this year were under the influ-
ence of England, or rather of Queen Mary's friends, the
Earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland. Both-
well, who had received a commission of lieutenant
upon the Border, was very unpopular. [Border History ^
p. 584.)

, The Queen herself advanced to the Borders

"^ ' * to remedy this evil and to hold courts at Jed-
burgh. Bothwell was already in his castle of Hermit-
age in Liddesdale, near which he had been severely
wounded in an attempt to seize John Elliot of the
Parke. The Queen, upon hearing the tidings, has-
tened thither. A dangerous morass, still called the
Queen's Mire, is pointed out by tradition as the spot
where the lovely Mary and her white palfrey were in
danger of perishing. The distance betwixt Hermitage
and Jedburgh by the way of Hawick is nearly twenty-
four English miles. The Queen went and returned the
same day. Whether she visited a wounded subject or a
lover in danger has been warmly disputed. At the time,
Archibald of Maingertoun and Lancelot of Whithaugh
were captives in Hermitage Castle. (Prof Aytoun's
Bothwelly p. 46. Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border^ edit.
Lond., 1868, p. 21.)

€i)e f^tmUt of a^aingmoutt 211

" Good faith ! I had but little zeal
To meddle with the knaves,
Who simply kept their fathers* rule,
And fought for bloody graves.
No war was then between the lands,
Else swift and sure, I ween.
Each Border Clan, on Scottish soil.
Had mustered for their Queen;

" Saint Andrew ! 'twas no easy task
To hunt an Armstrong down.
Or make a Johnstown yield his sword
At summons from the Crown :
Yet, ere a week had passed away,
One half my work was done.
And safe within my castle lay
Whithaugh and Mangerton."

Several other chieftains of Liddesdale arc frequently
mentioned during this period; one of these, Martin
Elliot of Braidley, son of Robert Elliot of Redheuch,
who during the minority of his nephew acted as chief,
had during the year 1567 such influence that he was
able to bind himself not only for his fellow clan but
also for the Armstrongs and the rest of Liddesdale.
(See History of Liddesdale ^ p. i8o.)

, Mr. C. L. Johnston, of Franklyn Lodge,

•^ ^* Hammersmith, W., London, author of His-
torical Families of Dumfriesshire y writes: "Having lately
been offered to examine the Earl of Mansfield's papers
at Perth, I took down notes of the Armstrong family
that I thought might be useful. In 1569 and a year
or two later I find the following Armstrong names:

212 Cf^tmitltff of ti^t %vmsttxtinQ0

Willie Armstrong of Kynmouth in Morton Tower.
Christopher Armstrong brother of Kynmouth. Ninian
Armstrong brother to Willie, Robert son to Willie.
Archibald, and Will Armstrong brother to William
Armstrong callit Willie of Kenmouth. Sim, Ninian,
and Rowy, sons to the Laird of Mangerton. Also Sy-
mon Armstrong callit the Feid. Johnnie Armstrong
of the Bankheid, and others of the branch of Manger-
ton dwelling in Liddisdaill. Johne Armstrong callit
the Laird's Johne. Christie Armstrong of the Syde.
Andro Armstrong son to George of the Harlaw. And
from the Newbie Charters, Andrew Armstrong of Gyn-
hills, his brother Thomas, and Thomas's son William,
1569-72. Ekke Armstrong [Sande's Ekke] son to
Andro. These, like the rest, were concerned in dis-
turbances and obtained a respite."

In this year the regent Murray lay on a Sunday
night at Maingertoun, and in the morning caused the
whole place to be burned and blown up. Forster adds
that (Forster to Cecil, MSS. Caligula, CI. No. 503)
"the Regent hath the whole border of Scotland in
obedience at this time, saving only Liddesdale." [Scotts
of Bucckuchy by William Fraser, p. 149, vol. i.)

Murray's death took place soon after his expedition
to the Borders, and is thus commemorated by the au-
thor of his Elegy:

"To having stablischt all things in this sort,
To Liddisdaill aganc he did resort,
Throw Kwisdaill, Kskdaill, and all the daills rode he.
And also lay three nights in Cannabie,
Whair na prince lay thir hundred yeiris before.

€f^t 1$on0t of la^aingertoun 213

" Threescore and twelf he brocht of thame in pledge,
Syne wardit thame, whilk maid the rest keep ordour;
Than mycht the rasch-bus keep ky on the Border."

On October 21st, 1569, seven of the Armstrongs
were to be received as pledges to be relieved by twenty.
{History of Liddesdale^ p. 65.]

In 1569 Archibald, eighth Lord of Maingertoun, de-
clined to be pledge for his brother John, the laird of
Tinnisburn. [English and Scottish Popular Ballads^ vol.
vi, p. 462.)

During the civil war between the unfortunate Queen
Mary, her third husband Bothwell, and the Protestant
party under the Regent Murray and infant James VI,
gentlemen of Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk, and Peebles
signed a bond to support the young King. It was
dated at Kelso, April 6th, 1569, headed by the name
of Buccleuch, Knt., and followed by many Scots, Kers,
Cranstanes, Gledstanes, and others. They professed
themselves specially enemies to the Armstrongs, Elliots,
Nicksons, Littles, Beatties, Thomsons, Irvings, Bells,
Johnstones, Glendinnings, Routleges, Hendersons, and
Scotts of Ewisdale, — in fact, those who had fought on
the side of the Queen at Langholm. (Hist. Families of
Dumfriesshire^ p. 79.)

On November 15th, 1569, Thomas Percy, Earl of
Northumberland, and Charles Nevil, Earl of Westmore-
land, at the head of their tenantry and others, took
arms for the purpose of liberating Mary Queen of Scots
and restoring the old religion. They besieged Barnard
Castle, which was stoutly defended by Sir George Bowes,
who afterwards, being appointed the C^een's marshal,

214 €^ttmit\t0 of tf)e %vm^ttonsfi

hanged the poor constables and peasantry by the dozens
in a day, to the amount of 800. The Earl of North-
umberland took refuge with Hector Armstrong, of Hare-
law. He was betrayed by Hector, as will be related,
and beheaded, August 22d, 1572, at York. The Earl of
Westmoreland, deprived of the ancient and noble patri-
mony of the Neviles, reduced to beggary, escaped over
the sea to Flanders, and died in misery, being the last
of his family. (Ritson.)

The intent of the earls was, in Northumberland's
own words, " The reformation of religion, and the pre-
servation of the Queen of Scots, whom they accounted
by God's law and man's law to be right heir, if want
should be of issue of the Queen's Majesty's body." These
two causes, they were confident, were favored by the
larger number of noblemen within the realm. Protes-
tanism had no hold in the north, and Queen Elizabeth's
officers in those parts were, for the moment, not strong
enough to make opposition. With leaders of energy
and military skill, and a good chest to draw upon, the
rising in the north would have been highly dangerous.
(Introduction to "The Rising in the North," in English
mid Scottish Popular Ballads^ by Francis James Child.)

Jock o' the Side assisted both the Earl of Westmore-
land and the Earl of Northumberland to escape after
their unfortunate insurrection. " The two rebellious
rebels went into Liddesdale in Scotland, yesternight,
where Martin Ellwood [Elliot] and others, that have
given pledges to the regent of Scotland, did raise their
forces against them ; being conducted by black Orme-
ston, an outlaw of Scotland, that was a principal mur-

€I)e i^oui^e of iSl^amgettoun 215

thercr of the King of Scots, where the fight was offered,
and both parties alighted from their horses ; and in the
end Ellwood said to Ormeston, he would be sorry to
enter into deadly feud with him by bloodshed ; but he
would charge him and the rest before the regent for
keeping of the rebels ; and if he did not put them out
of the country, the next day, he would do his worst
again them. Whereupon the two carls were driven to
leave Liddesdale, and fly to one of the Armestrongs, a
Scott upon the batable land." . . . "The lady of North-
umberland was left at Jock o' the Sides house. At their
departing from her, they went not above fifty horse, and
the earl of Westmoreland, to be the more unknown,
changed his coat of plate and sword with John of the
Side, and departed like a Scottish borderer." (Adver-
tisements from Hexham^ 2 2d December, 1569, in the
Cabala, p. 160.)

On the 22d of December, 1569, the Earl of Sussex,
qui cunctando restituit rem. Lord Hunsdon, who had
been joined with him in command, and Sir Ralph Sad-
ler, who had been deputed to watch him, wrote to
Queen Elizabeth: "The earl rebels, with their princi-
pal confederates and the Countess of Northumberland,
did the twentieth of this present in the night flee into
Liddesdale with about a hundred horse ; and there re-
main under the conduction of Black Ormiston, — one of
the murtherers of the Lord Darnley, — and John of the
Side and the Lord's Jock."

The horses of the Countess of Northumberland and
of her two women, and of ten other persons of their
company, were left with the Liddesdale folk. The Earl

216 €f^vwitUft of tf)e %vmsittongit

being gone to Hector of the Harelaw, the Lady of
Northumberland was left at John of the Side's house.
[Advertisement from Hexham^ 2 2d December, 1569, in
the Cabala, p. 160.)

From John of the Side's the Countess of Northumber-
land and the Earl of Westmoreland, who had returned,
were conducted to Sir Thomas Ker at Fernihurst, near Jed-
burgh. Lady Northumberland shortly after removed to
Hume Castle. The regent Murray sent a secret messen-
ger to persuade Fernihirst to render into his hands the
** Earl of Westmoreland and the other her Majesty's
principal rebels," January 14th, 1570, but Westmore-
land escaped to Flanders in the autumn of 1570. He
was very desirous to make his peace with Elizabeth, but
the efforts he made were unsuccessful, and he wore out
thirty-one years in the Low Countries a pensioner of
Spain, dying at Newport in November, 1601. The
countess, his wife, daughter of the poet Surrey, a highly
educated and in every way admirable woman, was treat-
ed by Elizabeth as innocent of treason ; she was a Pro-
testant, and was granted a decent annuity for the sup-
port of herself and her three daughters. The Countess
of Northumberland, a Catholic, fled to Flanders in 1 570,
and lived on the King of Spain's bounty until 1596,
separated from her children, and with no consolation
but such as she derived from her intense religious and
theological convictions. [English and Scottish Popular
Ballads.)

John of the Side was nephew to Archibald, eighth
lord of Maingertoun, called the **gude auld lord" in
this ballad. The Lard's Jock was Archibald's brother.

€i)e 1$ouitt of O^aingertoun 217

Fair Johnie and Will a' Grena were sons of John of
Puddingburn, called the Laird's Jock. In Border Ex-
ploits John of the Side is called brother of Will a' Grena.
John of the Side's mother's name, according to the old
ballads, was Dinah ; she was also called Sybel Downie
of the Side. There was also an Archie and a Christie
of the Side. The Laird's Wat was brother to the
Laird's Jock. Thomas of Tinnisburn, Sym the Younger,
and Anthony were Sons of Symon of Tinnisburn. (See
English and Scottish Popular Ballads^ part VI, p. 475.
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border^ edit. Lond., 1868, p.
99, in introduction to Jock o' the Side. Border Ex-
ploits, edit. 181 2, p. 234.)

The foundations of Jock o' the Side's house may be
seen at the present day, on the southern slope of Kirk-
hill, just above Ettleton Cemetery in Liddesdale. A
large solitary tree now marks the spot.

Jock 0 the Side,

" Now Liddesdale has ridden a raid
But I wat they had better hae staid at hame ;
For Michael o' Winfield he is dead,
And Jock o' the Side is prisoner ta'en.

" For Mangerton house Lady Downie has gane.
Her coats she has kilted up to her knee:
And down the water wi' speed she rins,
While tears in spaits fa* fast frae her ee.

"Then up and spoke her gude auld lord —
*What news, what news, sister Downie, to mc!'
* Bad news, bad news, my lord Mangerton ;
Michael is killed, and they hae ta'en my son Johnie."

218 Cdroniclrjet of tl)e SCntijtftrongjtf

" * Ne'er fear, sister Downie/ quo* Mangerton ;

* I have yokes of ousen, eighty and three ;

My barns, my byres, and my faulds a' weil fiU'd,
I'll part wi them a' ere Johnie shall die.

" 'Three men I'll send to set him free,
A' harneist wi' the best o' steil ;
The English louns, may hear, and drie
The weight o' their braid-swords to feel.

" * The laird's Jock ane, the laird's Wat twa,
O Hobbie Noble, thou ane maun be!
Thy coat is blue, thou hast been true.
Since England banished thee, to me.'

" Now Hobbie was an Englishman,
In Bewcastle-dale was bred and born ;
But his misdeeds they were sae great.
They banished him ne'er to return.

" Lord Mangerton then orders gave,

* Your horses they wrang way maun be shod,
Like gentleman ye mauna seem,

But look like corn-caugers ' ga'en the road.

"'Your armour gude ye mauna shaw,
Nor yet appear like men o' weir;
As country lads be a' array'd,
Wi' branks and brecham ' on each marc.'

" Sae now their horses are the wrang way shod.
And Hobbie has mounted his grey sae fine;
Jock his lively bay, Wat's on his white horse behind,
And on they rode for the water of Tyne.

I Carrieri.

a Halter and cart-collar.

€^t ^oujfe of fi^aingertoun 219

" At the Cholcrford ' they a* light down,
And there, wi' the help of the light o* the moon,
A tree they cut, wi' fifteen nogs on each side,
To climb up the wa' of Newcastle toun.

But when they cam to Newcastle toun,
And were alighted at the wa'.
They fand thair tree three ells ower laigh.
They fand their stick baith short and sma*.

Then up spake the laird's ain Jock :

* There's naething for't ; the gates we maun force.*

But when they cam the gate until,

A proud porter withstood baith men and horse.

" His neck in twa the Armstrangs wrang;
Wi' fute or hand he ne'er play'd pa !
His life and his keys at anes they hae ta'en.
And cast his body ahint the wa'.

Now sune they reached Newcastle jail,
And to the prisoner thus they call :
* Sleeps thou, wakes thou, Jock o' the Side,
Or art thou weary of thy thrall ? '

Jock answers thus, wi' dolefu* tone;
'Aft, aft I wake — I seldom sleep;
But whae's this kens my name sae weel.
And thus to mese' my waes does seek?*

" Then out and spak the gude laird's Jock,
*Now fear ye na, my billie,' quo' he;
* For here are the laird's Jock, the laird's Wat,
And Hobbie Noble, come to set thee free.'

I A ford on the Tyne, above Hexham.

t Soothe.

220 Cbroniclejtf of ti)e ^Crmjeftrongjet

" * Now haud thy tongue, my gude laird's Jock,
For ever, alas ! this canna be ;
For if a' Liddesdale were here the night,
The morn's the day that I maun die.

" * Full fifteen stane o' Spanish iron,
They hae laid a' right sair on me;
Wi' locks and keys I am fast bound
Into this dungeon dark and dreirie.'

" * Fear ye na that,* quo' the laird's Jock;
*A faint heart ne'er wan a fair ladie ;
Work thou within, we'll work without,
And I'll be sworn we'll set thee free.'

" The first strong door that they cam at.
They loosed it without a key;
The next chain'd door that they came at,
They garr'd it a' to flinders flee.

" The prisoner now upon his back
The laird's Jock has gotten up fu' hie ;
And down the stairs, him, aims and a',
Wi' nae sma' speed and joy brings he.

"* Now, Jock, my man,' quo' Hobbie Noble,

* Some o' his weight ye may lay on me.'

* 1 wat weel no ! ' quo' the laird's ain Jock,

* I count him lighter than a flee.'

" Sae out at the gates they a* are gane.
The prisoner's set on horseback hie;
And now wi' speed they've ta'en the gate,
While ilk ane jokes fu' wantonlie:

" ' O Jock ! sae winsomely ye ride,
Wi* baith your feet upon ae side;
Sae weel ye're harneist, and sae trig,
In troth ye sit like ony bride! '

€I)e l^oujtfe of i^t^atngmoun 221

" The night, tho* wat, they did na mind,
But hied them on fu' merrilie.
Until they cam to Cholerford brae.
Where the water ran like mountains hie.

" But when they cam to Cholerford,
There they met with an auld man ;
Says, " Honest man, will the water ride?
Tell us in haste, if that ye can."

" * I wat weel no,' quo' the gude auld man ;

* I hae lived here thretty years and three,
And I ne'er saw Tyne sae big,

Nor running anes sae like the sea.'

" Then out and spake the laird's saft Wat,
Tho greatest coward in the cumpanie,

* Now halt, now halt ! we need na try 't
The day is come wee a* maun die ! '

" * Puir faint-hearted thief! ' cried the laird's ane Jock,

* There'll nae man die but him that's fie;'
I'll guide ye a' right safely thro';

Lift ye the pris'ner on ahint me.'

" Wi' that the water they hae ta'en.
By ane's and twa's they a' swam thro';

* Here are we a' safe,' quo' the laird's Jock,
'And, puir faint Wat, what think ye now?'

" They scarce the other brae had won,
When twenty men they saw pursue;
Frae Newcastle toun they had been sent,
A* English lads baith stout and true.

" But when the land-sergeant the water saw,

* It winna ride, my lads,' says he ;
I Fated.

222 €i)nmiclejtf of tl)e SHrmj^trongj^

Then cried aloud, * The prisoner take,
But leave the fetters, I pray, to me.*

" * I wat wecl no,' quo' the laird's ain Jock,

* I'll keep them a'; shoon to my mare they'll be:
My gude bay mare — for I am sure.

She has bought them a' right dear frae thee.*

" Sae now they are on to Liddesdaie,
E'en as fast as they could them hie ;
The prisoner is brought to's ain fireside.
And there o's aims they mak him free.

" * Now, Jock, my billie,' quo* a' the three,

* The day is corned thou was to dee ;
But thou's as weel a thy ain ingle-side.
Now sitting, I think, 'twixt thee and me.* **

[Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border,)

lohn a Side.

" Peeter a Whifeild he hath slaine,
And lohn a Side, he is tane.
And lohn Is bound both hand and foote,
And to the New-castle he is gone.

" But tydinges came to the Sybill o' the Side,
By the water-side as shee rann ;
Shee tooke her kirtle by the hem.
And fast shee runn to Mangerton.

• ••••••

The lord was sett downc at his meate;
When these tydinges shee did him tell,
Neuer a morsell might he eate.

€i)e l^ouHt of S^atngertoun 223

" But lords, the wningc their fiingars white,
Ladyes did pull thcmselues by the haire,
Crying, Alas and weladay !
For lohn o the Side wee shall neuer see more.

" * But wee'le goe sell our droucs of kine.
And after them our oxen sell.
And after them our troopes of sheepe.
But wee will loose him out of the New Castcll.'

" But then bespake him Hobby Noble,
And spoke these words wonerous hie;
Sayes, * Giue me fiue men to my selfe.
And rie feitch lohn of the Side to thee.'

" * Yea, thou'st haue fiue. Hobby Noble,
Of the best that are in this countrye;
rie giue thee fiue thousand, Hobby Noble,
That walke in Tyuidale trulye.'

" *Nay, rie haue but fiue,' saies Hobby Noble,
'That shall walke away with mee;
Wee will ryde like noe men of warr;
But like poore badgers wee wilbe.'

" They stuflfet vp all their baggs with straw,
And their steeds barefoot must bee;
*Come on, my bretheren,' sayes Hobby Noble,

* Come on your wayes, and goe with mee.'

" And when they came to Culerton ford.
The water was vp, they could it not goe;
And then they were ware of a good old man.
How his boy and hee were at the plowe.

"* But stand you still,' sayes Hobbie Noble,

* Stand you still heere at this shore,
And I will ryde to yonder old man.
And see w[h]ere the gate it lyes ore.

224 Cf^ronicle^ of tt^t ^nttj^trongj^

" * But Christ you save, father! ' quoth hee,

* Crist both you sauc and sec !
Where is the way ower this fford?
For Christ's sake tell itt mee ! '

" ' But I haue dwelled heere three score yeerc
Soe haue I done three score and three ;
I neuer sawe man nor horsse goe ore;
Except itt were a horse of tree.'

" * But fare thou well, thou good old man !
The devill in hell I leave with thee,
Noe better comfort heere this night
Thow giues my bretheren heere and me.*

" But when he came to his brether againe,
And told this tydings full of woe.
And then found a well good gate
They might ryde ore by two and two.

" And when they were come ouer the fforde,
All safe gotten att the last,

* Thankes be to God ! ' sayes Hobby Nobble,
*The worst of our perill is past.'

"And then they came into Howbrame wood,
And there then they found a tree.
And cutt itt downe then by the roote;
The lenght was thirty ffoote and three.

" And four of them did take the planke,
As light as it had beene a fflee,
And carryed itt to the New Castle,
Where as lohn a Side did lye.

"And some did climbe vp by the walls,
And some did climbe vp by the tree,
Vntill they came vpp to the top of the Castle,
Where lohn made his moane trulye.

€^t f^ou^e of d^oingertoun 229

He sayd, * God be with thee Sybill o the Side !
My owne mother thou art,' quoth hee;
* If thou knew this night I were here,
A woe woman then woldest thou bee.

" * And fare you well, Lord Mangerton !
And euer I say God be with thee !
For if you knew this night I were heere,
You wold sell your land for to loose mee.

"'And fare thou well, Much, Miller's sonnc!
Much, Miller's sonne, I say;
Thou has beene better att merke midnight
Then euer thou was att noone o the day.

"'And fare thou well, my good Lord Clough!
Thou art thy ffathers sonne and heire;
Thou neuer saw him in all thy lifFe
But with him durst thou breake a speare.

"'Wee are brothers childers nine or ten
And sisters children ten or eleven.
We neuer came to the feild to fight.
But the worst of us was counted a man.*

" But then bespake him Hoby Noble,
And spake these words vnto him ;
Saies, * Sleepest thou, wakest thou, lohn o the Side,
Or art thou this castle within ? '

" * But who is there,' quoth lohn oth Side,
'That knowes my name soe right and free?'
'I am a bastard-brother of thine;
This night I am comen for to loose thee.'

"' Now nay, now nay,' quoth lohn o the Side;
' Itt ffeares me sore that will not bee;
Ffor a pecke of gold and silver,' lohn sayed,
' In faith this night will not loose me.'

•5

226 Cf)rontclejtf of tf)e ^ntijBTtrong^

" But then bcspakc him Hobby Noble,
And till his brother thus sayd hee;
Sayes, Four shall take this matter in hand,
And two shall tent our geldings ffree.

" Four did breake one dore without,
Then lohn brake fiue himsell;
But when they came to the iron dore,
It smote twelue vpon the bell.

"*Itt ffeares me sore,* sayd Much, the Miller,
'That heere taken wee all shalbee;'

* But goe away, bretheren,' sayd lohn a Side,

* For euer alas ! this will not bee.'

"* But ffye vpon thee!' sayd Hobby Noble;

* Much, the Miller, fye vpon thee !

' It sore feares me,' said Hobby Noble,

* Man that thou wilt neuer bee.'

" But then he had Fflanders files two or three,
And hee fyled downe that iron dore.
And tooke lohn out of the New Castle,
And sayd, Looke thou neuer come heere more !

" When he had him fforth of the New Castle,

* Away with me, lohn, thou shalt ryde:'
But euer alas! itt cold not bee;

For lohn cold neither sitt nor stryde.

" But then he had sheets two or three.
And bound lohns boults fast to his ffeete.
And sett him on a well good steede,
Himselfe on another by him seete.

"Then Hobby Noble smiled and loug[h]e.
And spoke these worde in mickle pryde:
Thou sitts soe finely on thy geldinge
That, lohn, thou rydes like a bryde.

€f)e f^ou^t of d^aiitgmoun 227

" And when they came thorrow Howbrame townc,
lohns horsse there stumbled at a stone;

* Out and alas ! ' cryed Much, the Miller,
' lohn, thou'le make vs all be tane.'

"* But fye vpon thee ! ' saies Hobby Noble,

* Much, the Millar, fye on thee !

I know full well,* sayes Hobby Noble,

* Man that thou wilt neuer bee.'

"And when the came into Howbrame wood,
He had Fflanders files two or three
To file lohns bolts beside his ffeete.
That hee might ryde more easilye.

" Sayes, * lohn, now leape ouer a steede ! '
And lohn then hee lope ouer fiue:

* I know well,* sayes Hobby Noble,

* lohn, thy ffellow is not aliue.*

" Then he brought him home to Mangerton ;
The lord then he was att his meate;
But when lohn o the Side he there did see.
For faine hee cold noe more eate.

"He sayes. Blest be thou. Hobby Noble,
That euer thou wast man borne!
Thou hast feitched vs home good lohn oth Side,
That was now cleane ffrom vs gone.**

(Percy MS., 254. Hales and Furnivall, H, 203.
English and Scottish Popular Ballads.)

Hector of Harelaw, "with the Cuts and the Grieves,"
seems to have been under English assurance, for he is one
of those against whom bills were exhibited by the Scot-
tish commissioners to the lord bishop of Carlisle. In
the list of Borderers of 1597, Hector of Harelaw, with

228 Cbroniclejtf of tt)e ^tmtjtftrottgjet

the Griefs and Cuts of Harelaw, also figures as an in-
habitant of the Debateablc Land. It would appear from
a spirited invective in the Maitland MS. against the re-
gent and those who delivered up the unfortunate Earl
of Northumberland to Elizabeth, that Hector had been
guilty of this treachery to redeem the pledge which had
been exacted from him for his peaceable demeanor.

" The traitour Eckie of Harelaw,
That says he sould him to redeem his pledge."

The earl, forsaken by his followers, at length reached
the house of Hector of Harelaw, with whom he hoped
to lie concealed ; for Hector had engaged his honor to
be true to him, and was under great obligations to this
unhappy nobleman. But the faithless wretch betrayed
his guest to Murray, the regent of Scotland, by whom
he was delivered over to Queen Elizabeth. The writers
of that time assure us that Hector, who was rich before,
fell shortly into poverty, and became so infamous that
"to take Hector's cloak" grew into a proverb, express-
ing contempt for one who betrayed his friend. Hector
was not alone to blame. "My lord Regent convened
with Martin Eliot that he should betray Thomas, Earl
of Northumberland, who was fled in Liddesdale out of
England for refuge, in this manner: that is to say, the
said Martin caused Heckie Armstrong desire my lord of
Northumberland to come and speak with him under
trust, and caused the said earl believe that, after speak-
ing, if my lord Regent would pursue him, that he and
his friends should take plain part with the Earl of North-
umberland. And when said earl came Heckie Arm-

€f)e I^oujtfe of lai^amgertoun 229

strong to speak the said Martin, he caused certain light-
horsemen of my lord Regent's, with others his friends,
to lie at await, and when they should see the earl and
the said Martin speaking together, that they should
come and take the said earl ; and so as was devised, so
came to pass." [Diurnal of Occurrents^ p. 154.)

Sussex and Sadler wrote that " the Earl of Northum-
berland was yesterday, at one in the afternoon, delivered
by one Hector, of Harlaw wood, of the surname of the
Armstrongs, to Alexander Hume, to be carried to the
Regent." [English and Scottish Popular Ballads.)

The ruin of Harelaw Tower was standing in 1 8 1 2
and was near Harelawpike, on the east bank of a little
burn, a half mile from its mouth, which empties into
the north side of the Liddal about three miles west of
Kershope. Two large trees surrounded by smaller ones
now mark the spot. At no great distance from Hare-
law Tower was Penton Linns. Here the river is con-
tracted by stupendous rocks that rise abruptly on every
side and force its waters into a broken narrow channel
conducted by a lovely terrace walk along the ledge of a
precipice. On the Scottish side of the river one beholds
the waters thundering and boiling among the huge
rocks that are scattered promiscuously below.

From the Ballad of Northumberland Betrayed by Douglas.

" How long shall fortune faile me nowc,
And harrowe me with fear and dread ?
How long shall I in bale abide.
In misery my life to lead?

230 C[)rotti(Iejtf of t^t %tm^tnnstf

" To fall from bliss, alas the while !
It was my sore and heavye lott;
And I must leave my native land,
And I must live a man forgot.

" One gentle Armstrong, I doe ken,
A Scot he is much bound to mee;
He dwelleth on the border-side,
To him I'll goe right privilie.

"Thus did the noble Percy 'plaine.
With a heavy heart and wel-away.
When he with all his gallant men
On Bramham moor had lost the day.

" But when he to the Armstrongs came.
They dealt with him all treacherouslye ;
For they did strip that noble earle.
And ever an ill death may they dye !

" False Hector to Earl Murray sent,
To shew him where his guest did hide,
Who sent him to the Lough-leven,
With William Douglas to abide.

"And when he to the Douglas came,
He halched him right courteouslie ;
Sayd, Welcome, welcome, noble earle,
Here thou shalt safelye bide with mee.

" When he had in Lough-leven been
Many a month and many a day.
To the regent the lord-warden sent,
That bannisht earle for to betray.

" * Looke that your brydle be wight, my lord.
That you may goe as a shipp att sea ;
Looke that your spurres be bright and sharpe.
That you may pricke her while shee'le awaye.'

€l^e l^ouitfe of Sl^aingertoun 231

" * What ncedcth this, Douglas,' he sayth,
* That thou nccdcst to ffloutc mcc ?
For I was counted a horsseman good
Before that euer I mett with thee.

"*A fFalse Hector hath my horsse,
And euer an euill death may hee dye !
And Willye Armestronge hath my spurres
And all the geere belongs to mee.' "

The death of the regent Murray on January
■^ ' * 23d, 1570, excited the party of Mary to re-
newed hope and exertion. It seems that the design of
Bothwelhaugh, who slew him, was well known upon
the Borders; for the very day on which the slaughter
happened, Buccleuch and Fairnihirst, with their clans,
broke into England and spread devastation along the
frontiers with unusual ferocity. It is probable they well
knew that the controlling hand of the regent was that
day palsied by death. Buchanan exclaims loudly against
this breach of truce with Elizabeth. He numbers among
these insurgents Buccleuch and Fairnihirst, Armstrongs
and others. Besides these powerful clans, Mary num-
bered among her adherents the Maxwells and almost
all the West Border leaders excepting Drumlanrig and
Jardine of Applegirth. [Minstrelsy of the Scottish Bor-
der.) Walter Scott of Newcastleton relates that "the
regent's death was much lamented in Scotland. Im-
mediately after the death of the regent, Buccleuch and
Kerr of Fairnihirst, with the Armstrongs, crossed the
Border and plundered and burnt all as they went, out of
revenge for their captive Queen."

232 CI)rontcIei^ of ti)e %tm^tvtmiift

The skirmish of the Reidswire happened upon the
7th of June, 1575, at one of the meetings held by the
wardens of the Marches. It was a warm conflict, and
Carmichael was nearly taken prisoner, but it terminated
in a complete victory for the Scottish Borderers.

" Carmichael was our warden then,
He caused the country to conveen;
And the Laird's Wat,' that worthie man.
Brought in that sirname weil beseen : '
The Armestranges, that aye has been
A hardy house, but not a hail,^
The Klliots' honours to maintain.
Brought down the lave o' Liddesdale.

" Except the horsemen of the guard.
If I could put men to availe,
None stoutiier stood out for their laird
Nor did the lads of Liddisdail."

r^ Archibald, eighth lord of Maingertoun, died
"^ ' * about this time. He had three sons, Simon,
Ninian, and Rowe. His eldest son, Simon, was proprie-
tor of Maingertoun as early as January, 1578. (Stod-
dart's Scoff is/? Arms.) The shield already given (see
1548), and those described in Stacie's MS., Lyon Office,
and by Sir James Balfour (see 1674), were the armorial
bearings of Archibald. The few but authentic state-
ments of his life enable us^ to form some idea of his
character. At the end of the fifteenth century we find
Archibald leading a wild troop of chief men's sons

1 Luinl'i Wat, brother of the Laird'i Jock. (See 1569.)

2 Well appointed.

3 Not whole, broken.

€()e i^oujtfe of fit^aingertoun 233

whose retreat was in the Cumberland forest of the
Levyn, now called the Line. There they remained for
several years, outlawed. Later he was kept as a hos-
tage in Edinburgh until the Bishop of Moray and the
Prior of St. Andrew's appeared before the council and
desired his release. The father's signature in the latter
part of his life was generally undersigned by this son,
whom the parent termed in documents his son and heir-
apparent. In 1567 Archibald was imprisoned by Both-
well in Hermitage Castle. In 1569 his castle of Main-
gertoun was destroyed with gunpowder by the regent
Murray, his guest. In 1569 he declined to be pledge
for one of the members of his father's family — a griev-
ous ingratitude in those times, coming as it did from
the laird of Maingertoun to his brother John of Tinnis-
burn, the idol of the minstrel, the **gude Lard's Jock."
He lived to be very old, and had immense herds of
cattle. In the frequent forays during the latter part of
his life of which we have record, this laird of Mainger-
toun almost always rode alone.

In 1578 the chief of the Johnstones was made war-
den of the Borders and knighted. He also came for-
ward as candidate, though unsuccessfully, for the office
of provost of Dumfries, which had hitherto been held
by the members or friends of the Maxwell family.
Johnstone's audacity in contesting it gave additional dis-
pleasure to Lord Maxwell, who prevented him and his
followers from entering the town with an armed force.
The old family feud was continued until Maxwell, hav-
ing quarreled with the king's favorite. Lord Arran, was
declared an outlaw by James VI on the ground that he

234 Ct^vtmicitft of tt^t ^ntijBitrongjI

protected the Armstrongs. Johnstone, the new warden,
was ordered to pursue and arrest him, but was twice de-
feated. Robert Maxwell besieged and burned Lough-
wood Castle, observing as he watched the flames that
he would give Lady Johnstone light to set her hood.
A compromise was made by the king with his rebel
subject. Johnstone died soon after, in 1586, upon which
Maxwell and the Earl of Angus, with Scot of Buccleuch,
Armstrongs under Kinmont Will, Littles, Beatties, a com-
pany of Nithsdale men, and 340 from Lower Annandale,
marched upon Stirling and effected their purpose of de-
posing the favorite Arran (see 1586), who was deprived
of his title and estates, and of obtaining from Parlia-
ment a full amnesty for themselves. Maxwell was ap-
pointed warden of the Marches, and formed a bond of
alliance with the young James, Laird of Johnstone, who
married Sarah Maxwell the granddaughter of the cele-
brated Lord Herries. A relative. Sir Robert Maxwell of
Orchardstane, had married one of Johnstone's sisters. So
for some years there was peace between the two fami-
lies. (Hisf. Families of Dumfriesshire^ p. 118.)

In this year the Armstrongs and Elliots of

•^ ' "* Ewesdale were at feud, but it is clear the
quarrel was confined to the branches inhabiting that
district. In the same year the Armstrongs of the De-
bateable Land were at feud with Turnbull of Bedroul,
but there is no reason to suppose that their clansmen of
Liddesdale adopted the quarrel. (Hist, of Liddesdale.)

In 1580 there were seventy-nine Armstrongs, of
whom twenty-one were married to Englishwomen.
[Hist, of Liddesdale ^ p. 82.)

€i)( I^ou^e of O^amgertoun 235

^ Simon, 9th lord of Maingertoun, had three

"^ * sons, Archibald the eldest, Umgle or Hingle,
and Simon of Runchback. We also hear of " Robe
Armstrangis father, brother to the lard of Mangerton."
(Leonard A. Morrison. Stoddart's Scottish Arms.)

In a "Breviate of the Attempts of England commit-
ted upon the West Marches by the West Borderers of
Liddesdale, and fouled by the Commissioners, for lack
of Appearance," appears: "West Marches against Lid-
desdale, June, 1 58 1. Sir Simon Musgrave, Knight,
complains upon the Lard of Mangerton, Lards Jock,
Sim's Thom and their complices, for: burning of his
barn, wheat, rye, oats, bigg, and peas, with L. 1000
sterling." The commissioners were John Foote, John
Selbe, Richard Lowther, Carmigell, Alexander Hume
of Hutton Hall, Mr. George Yonge.

Q In this year we read in a ** Bill of the West

■^ ' Marches of England, fouled at Berwick upon
the West Marches of Scotland, before the Commission-
ers," the names of Kinmont Will and Kinmont's John,
who lived at Sark, in Annan, he and his descendants, one
of whom, John Armstrong, married Catherine Grahm,
child of William Grahm, niece of Sir Richard Grahm.
[Border Exploits^ edit. Hawick, 181 2, p. 336. Hist, of
Liddesdale^ p. 120. Stoddart's Scottish ArmSy p. 420.)

Other names occurring in the same document are:
John Armstrong, son to Sandie's Ekie's Richie of the
Gingles, and of the Stubholm, Young Christopher of
Aughinggill, John and George of Calf hill. According
to the old ballad there were three brothers of Ca'field
— Archie, John, and Richard. Ca'field and Calfhill ad-

236 €t^vi>mt\t0 of tf)e %rmfittiingfi

joined, but were two different estates near Langholm.
Sim of Whitram was chief of all the Armstrongs of Ca*-
field and Calfhill. The Armstrongs of Calfhill de-
scended from John of Ca'field. We also hear of the
names the Old Laird of Whithaugh, Young Laird of
Whithaugh, Sim's Thom, and Jock of Copshaw. {Hisf.
of Westmoreland and Cumberland^ vol. i, Introduction, p.
33. English and Scottish Popular Ballads^ vol. vi, p. 485.
Border Exploits ^ edit. Hawick, 181 2, pp. 342 to 352.)

It may perhaps be thought, from the near resem-
blance that several of these ballads bear to each other, the
editor might have dispensed with a few of the insertions
in this collection. But although the incidents are al-
most the same, yet there is considerable variety in the
language, and each contains minute particulars, highly
characteristic of Border life, one of the objects of this
work to illustrate.

Archie of Ca field.

"As I was a-walking mine alane,
It was by the dawning of the day,
I heard twa brithers mak their mane,
And I iisten'd weel to what they did say.

"The youngest to the eldest said,
* Biythe and merrie how can we be?
There were three brithern of us born,
And ane of us is condemn'd to dee.'

" * And ye wad be merrie, and ye wad be sad,
What the better wad billy' Archie be?
Unless I had thirty men to mysell.
And a' to ride in my cumpanie.
I Brother.

Cf^e 1$tm^t of a^atngertoim 237

" * Ten to hauld the horses* heads.
And other ten the watch to be.
And ten to break up the strong prison,
Where billy Archie he does lie.*

" Then up and spak him mettled John Hall,
(The luve of Teviotdale aye was he)
*An I had eleven men to mysell,
It's aye the twalt man I wad be.*

"Then up bespak him coarse Ca'field
(I wot and little gude worth was he),
* Thirty men is few anew,
And a' to ride in our companie.'

"There was horsing, horsing in haste,
And there was marching on the lee;
Until they came to Murraywhate,
And they lighted there right speedilie.

"* A smith! a smith!* Dickie he cries,
*A smith, a smith, right speedilie.
To turn back the caukers of our horses* shoon!
For it's unkensome we wad be.'

" * There lives a smith on the water-side,
Will shoe my little black mare for me;
An I've a croun in my pocket,
And every groat of it I wad gie.'

" * The night is mirk, and it's very mirk.
And by candle-light I canna weel see;
The night is mirk, and it's very pit mirk,
And there will never a nail ca' right for me.'

" ' Shame fa* you and your trade baith,
Canna beet' a good fellow by your mystery;*

I Abet, aid.
a Trade, art.

238 €()ronicIeje( of tte Strmjertrongj^

But leeze mc on thee, my little black mare,
Thou's worth thy weight in gold to mc.*

" There was horsing, horsing in haste.
And there was marching upon the lee ;
Until they cam to Dumfries port.
And they lighted there right speedilie.

"'There's five of us will hold the horse,
And other five will watchmen be;
But wha's the man among ye a',
Will gae to the TolHooth door wi' me?*

" O up then spalc him mettled John Hall,
(Frae the Laigh Teviotdale was he),
* If it should cost me my life this very night,
I'll gae to the Talbooth door wi' thee.*

"* Be of gude cheir, now, Archie, lad !
Be of gude cheir, now, dear billie!
Work thou within, and we without,
And the morn thou'se dine at Ca'field wi* me.'

" O Jockie Hall stepp'd to the door.
And he bended low back his knee.
And he made the bolts, the door hang on,
Loup frae the wa' right wantonlie.

" He took the prisoner on his back.
And down the Tolbooth stair cam he:
And the black mare stood ready at the door,
I wot a foot ne'er stirred she.

"They laid the links out owre her neck.
And that was her gold twist to be;
And they cam doun thro' Dumfries toun.
And wow but they cam speedilie.

nni^!mp«H

€i)e l^ou^e of fi^atngertoun 239

" The livc-lang night these twelve men radc,
And aye till they were right wearie,
Until they cam to the Murraywhate,
And they lighted there right speedilie.

"*A smith! a smith!' then Dickie he cries,
*A smith, a smith, right speedilie,
To file the irons frae my dear brither!
For forward, forward we wad be.*

"They hadna filed a shackle of iron,
A shackle of iron but barely thrie.
When out spak young Simon' brave,
' O dinna you see what I do see?

" * Lo ! yonder comes lieutenant Gordon,
Wi' a hundred men in his companie;
This night will be our lyke-wake night.
The morn the day we a' maun die.*

*• O there was mounting, mounting in haste.
And there was marching upon the lee;
Until they cam to Annan water.
And it was flowing like the sea.

" * My mare is young, and very skeigh,'
And in o' the weiP she will drown me;
But ye'll tak mine, and I'll tak thine.
And sune through the water we sail be.*

Then up and spak him coarse Ca'field,

(I wot and little gude worth was he),

*We had better lose ane than lose a' the lave;

We'll lose the prisoner, we'll gae free.'

I Simon of Ca'hill, son of Jock of Ca'field called coane Ca'field.
a Shy.
3 Eddy.

240 Cf)ronicIej^ of t^t %tmintonssf

" * Shame fa* you and your lands baith !
Wad ye e'en' your lands to your born billy?
But hey ! bear up, my bonnie black mare,
And yet thro' the water we sail be.'

" Now they did swim that wan water,
An wow but they swam bonnilie !
Until they cam to the other side,
And they wrang their cloathes right drunkily.

" * Come thro', come thro', lieutenant Gordon !
Come thro' and drink some wine wi' me!
For there is an ale-house here hard by,
And it shall not cost the ae penny.'

"'Throw me my irons,' quo' lieutenant Gordon;
* I wot they cost me dear eneugh.'
'The shame a ma,' quo' mettled John Ha',
'They'll be gude shackles to my pleugh.'

"'Come thro', come thro*, lieutenant Gordon!
Come thro' and drink some wine wi' me !
Yestreen I was your prisoner.
But now this morning am I free ! ' "

{Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.)

Archie o Cawfield.

Communicated to Prof. James Francis Child by Mr. J. M. Watson, of Clark's
Island, Plymouth Harbor, Mass., April loth, 1889, as remembered by him
from the singing of his father.

"As I walked out one morning in May,
Just before the break of day,
I heard two brothers a making their moan,
And I listened a while to what they did say.

" ' We have a brother in prison,' said they,
' Oh in prison lieth he !

I E'en — even, compare, put into comparison.

€l^e l^avmt of S^aingertoun 241

If we had but ten men just like ourselves,
The prisoner we would soon set free.'

" * Oh no, no, no ! ' Bold Dickie said he,
* Oh no, no, no, that never can be !
For forty men is full little enough
And I for to ride in their companie.

" 'Ten to hold the horses in,
Ten to guard the city about,
Ten for to stand at the prison door,
And ten to fetch poor Archer out.'

" They mounted their horses, and so swam they.
Who but they so merrilie!
They swam till they came to the other side,
And there they alighted so manfuliie.

" They mounted their horses, and so rode they.
Who but they so merrilie!
They rode till they came to that prison-door.
And then they alighted so manfuliie.

* For I have forty men in my companie,
And I have come to set you free.'

" * Oh no, no, no ! ' poor Archer says he,

* Oh no, no, no, that never can be !

For I have forty pounds of good Spanish iron
Betwixt my ankle and my knee.'

" Bold Dickie broke lock. Bold Dickie broke key,
Bold Dickie broke everything that he could see;
He took poor Archer under one arm.
And carried him out so manfuliie.

242 €()ronicIeitf of tf)e %miftuonQii

" They mounted their horses, and so rode they,
Who but they so merrilie !

They rode till they came to that broad river's side,
And there they alighted so manfullie.

" * Bold Dickie, Bold Dickie,' poor Archer says he,

* Take my love home to my wife and children three ;
For my horse grows lame, he cannot swim.

And here I see that I must die.'

" They shifted their horses, and so swam they,
Who but they so merrilie!
They swam till they came to the other side.
And there they alighted so manfullie.

" * Bold Dickie, Bold Dickie,' poor Archer says he,

* Look you yonder there and see :
For the high-sheriff he is coming.
With an hundred men in his companie.'

"'Bold Dickie, Bold Dickie,' High-sheriff said he,

* You're the damndest rascal that ever I see !
Go bring me back the iron you've stole,
And I will set the prisoner free.'

" ' Oh no, no, no ! ' Bold Dickie said he,

* Oh no, no, no, that never can be!

For the iron 'twill do to shoe the horses.
The blacksmith rides in our companie.'

"'Bold Dickie, Bold Dickie,' High-sheriff says he,
'You're the damndest rascal that ever I see!'
' I thank ye for nothing,' Bold Dickie says he,
' And you're a damned fool for following me.' "

{English and Scottish Popular Ballads.)

Q Maingcrtoun, which the regent Murray had

•^ ^' all but demolished in I 569, was rebuilt. There

exists at the present time a stone, built into the castle

€t)e l^ou^e of d^aingertoun 2^3

ruin, with an important escutcheon carved upon it.
Upon the shield is projected a chevronnel couped divid-
ing three rondles for the estate. Upon the sinister side
of the shield is the device of the two-handed sword run-
ning almost the whole length of the field and pointing

upwards ; this was the sword of the hero of their tradi-
tion, and stood for the old name of Suord. Over the
shield was carved the number 1583. The initials S A
are separated by the upper part, and those of E F by
the lower part, of the shield; these stood for Symon
Armstrong and Elizabeth Foster. Symon Armstrong
was ninth lord of Maingertoun.

244 €t^tmiit\c0 of t^t SCrmjsrtrongi^

« Very few instances of a chieftain having been

"^ ^* captured in his own house are recorded, one

being the taking of the laird of Maingertoun in 1584

by the deputy of Lord Scrope, the English warden.

[History of Liddesdale^ page 76.)

n.r There appears in a " Breviate of the Attempts
^ * of England committed upon the West Marches
by the West Borderers of Liddesdale, and fouled by the
Commissioners, for lack of Appearance," the following
complaint: "West Marches against Liddesdale July,
1586. Thomas Musgrave, deputy warden of Bewcastle
complains upon Lards Jock, Dick o Dryupp and their
complices for 400 kine and oxen, taken in open forrie
from the Drysike in Bewcastle." The Commissioners
were John Foster, John Selbe, Richard Lowther, Carmi-
gell, Alexander Hume of Hutton Hall, Mr. George Yonge.
Here is a list of some of the Armstrongs who were
active in warring upon neighboring counties in this
year, whereby they were recorded in the bills of com-
plaints presented to the Lord Bishop of Carlisle : Black
Jock's Johnie, Black Jock's Leonie, Geordy Armstrong,
Catgill, Hector of the Harelaw, Emmie (Jamie) of the
Gingles, Richie's Geordie, Geordie of the Gingles called
Henharrow, Thom's Robbie, Patie's Geordie's Johnie,
John of the Side called Gleed John, Archie of the Gin-
gles, Jock of the Gingles, Will's Jock (Kinmont Will's
Jock), Sandie's Ringon's Davie, Eckie's Richie of the
Stubholm, Young Christopher of Aughingill, John Arm-
strong, son to Sandie's Eckie's Richie. The name John
of the Hollos also occurs during the year. {^Border Ex-
ploits^ pp. 347, 351, edit. 1812, Hawick.)

€^e l^ou^e of a^antgertmm 2^5

It was in this year that the Earl of Angus, attended
by Home, Maxwell, Buccleuch, and other Border chief-
tains, marched to Stirling to remove the Earl of Arran
(see 1578) from the king's councils: the town was
miserably pillaged by the Borderers, particularly by a
party of Armstrongs under Kinmont Willie, who not
only made prey of horses and cattle but even of the
very iron gratings of the windows, {^ohnstoni Historia.)

The original deed of Whithaugh having been lost or
destroyed (see 1535), the lands were regranted by Francis,
Earl of Bothwell, to Lancelot Armstrong, October 9th,
1586, and remained in possession of his descendants until
about 1730. [History of Liddesdale^ p. 178.)

On November i6th, 1586, King James VI gave in-
structions to "Archibald Eighth Earl of Angus relative
to his Leutenancy in the Borders," wherein he stated
that he .... " Desyr the principallis of the brokin men
of the west marches to cum and speik zoureself, or sic
as ze appoynt to deale with thame Geo. Arm-
strong of Arkiltoun, zoung Thorn Armstrong of [the]
Gyngillis, Christie Armsrrang of Barnegleish, Davy
Armstrang, sone to Abye [Erbie or Herbert], Will
Armstrang of Kynmont, Christie of Auchingaall, . . .
[Signed] James R." (The Douglass Booky vol. iii.)

In this year we hear again of "Young Christopher of
Aughinggill," whose estate adjoined that of Christopher
the elder called Barnegleish in Annan. (See Blaeu's Map.)
William, called Christe's Will, who lived at Gilnockie,
was a son of John's Christe called Christopher of Barne-
gleish and Christopher of Langholm. (See 1562.)

I In Ireland he was erroneously called the laird of Mangertoun.

246 <Cf)rontcICjtf of t^t %vm^ttimgii

r^ The renown of Kinmont Willie ms not sur-
^ '* prising, since, in 1587, the apprehending of
him and Robert Maxwell, natural brother to the Lord
Maxwell, was the main but unaccomplished object of
a royal expedition to Dumfries. About this time it is
possible that Kinmont Willie may have held some con-
nection with the Maxwells, though afterwards a retainer
of Buccleuch, an enemy of the Maxwells. {^'J ohnstoni
His tori ay p. i 38.)

In a " Breviate of the Attempts of England committed
upon the West Marches by the West Borderers of Lid-
desdale, and fouled by the Commissioners, for lack of
Appearance," appears: "West Marches against Liddes-
desdale, Septr, 1587. Andrew Rootledge of the Nuke
complains upon Lard's Jock, Dick of Dryupp, Lancie
of Whisgills, and their complices for 50 kine and oxen,
burning his house, corn, and insight, L.ioo Sterling."
Commissioners, John Forster, John Selbe, Richard Low-
ther, Carmigell, Alexander Hume of Hutton Hall, Mr.
George Yonge.

Again, the "inhabitants of the town of Teinmon
complain upon Lard of Mangerton, Lard of Whit-
haugh and their complices, for: The murder of John
Thveddil, Willie Thveddel and Dave and Bell, the tak-
ing and carrying away of John Thirlway, Philip Thirl-
way, Edward Thirlway, John Bell of Clowsigill, David
Bell, Philipp Tweddel, Rowge Corrock, Thomas Alli-
son, George Lyvock and Archie Armstrong, ransoming
them as prisoners, and the taking of 100 kine and oxen,
spoil of houses, writings, money, and insight L.400."

During the ensuing month the Armstrongs were raid-

Zf^t J^ouitfe of a^aingcrtoim 247

ed five times, once by Captain Musgrave and his soldiers.
In his complaint against the inhabitants of the West
Marches the laird of Maingertoun states that his losses
were 400 kine and oxen, 800 sheep and goats, 6 horses,
and ^^1500 sterling. Thomas of Tinnisburn lost 300
kine and oxen, 6 horses, and 800 sheep. Sim of VVhit-
haugh lost 800 sheep. For these losses they probably
received some redress. Lord Scrope, warden of the
West Marches of England, soon afterwards had ready to
deliver ten of the most noted leaders of the raids, among
whom was also Captain Humphrey Musgrave. {Bor-
der Antiquities.)

r, Q In this year the Armstrongs baffled, in Tarras

"^ * Moss, the Earl of Angus, lieutenant upon the
Border. On this occasion he was totally unsuccessful,
and nearly lost his relation, Douglas of Ively, whom
the Armstrongs made prisoner. (Godscroft.)

Lord Ernest Hamilton gives the tradition of Jock
Armstrong of Whithaugh, brother of Launcelot (see
1 541), who had come into possession of Whisgills and
was executed in the following manner: One of the
king's lieutenants, passing through Liddesdale with the
object of bringing about good rule upon the Border,
came suddenly upon Jock loitering unsuspectingly near
the Tarrasburn, and seized him upon general principles.
Not seeing a suitable tree to hang him from, he ordered
him bound and thrown into the Tarras. Jock, seeing
there was no hope, "marched down to the rocky pool
below the linn, stepping as lightly and briskly as though
he were walking to his wedding, and there they tilted
him in and held hi,m under with the butts of their

248 Ct^xmntka of tf^t ^CrmjB^trongjtf

spears, after which they rode on again down the valley."
So the place was called Jock Armstrong's Pool. Un-
bridled though their lives were, this line knew how to
die. From first to last they were straight fearless men
of more than common size, with the faces of kings and
hearts of devils. There was a wonderful likeness to
one another in them all, a likeness that lay in the thick
level brows, "lucken-brows," the small straight features,
and expressive blue eyes. These things they doubtless
inherited from the Faa maiden (see the Fairy Bear
Saga), and from her, too, they must have inherited
some of the wild passions that were the only law they
knew. The present generation were not only tolerated
but even paid court to — by men, because within five
hours they could gather into the field between two and
three hundred spearman; by women, on account of their
daring and a certain romance that hung about the name.
( Outlaws of the Border. )

The actors of the ballad called "Dick o' the
^^ * Cow" flourished while Thomas, lord Scrope,
of Bolton, was warden of the West Marches of England
and governor of Carlisle Castle, which offices he acquired
upon the death of his father, 1590, and retained until
the union of the crowns. The ballad was well known
as early as 1596. It tells how one called Dick o' the
Cow was abused by Fair Johnie Armstrong and his
brother Will a* Grena, sons of John the laird of Pud-
dingburn, sometimes called the laird of Tinnisburn.
The Cumberland fool was not backward in punishing
them, however. The picturesque dialect and references
to old Border customs in this ballad are of especial in-

€i)e l^ou^e of iSl^atngertoun 2li9

tcrcst to the student of folklore. Puddingburn was in a
sequestered glen between Kirkhill and Stanygill Rig, no
great distance from Jock o* the Side's, at a place marked
Stainygill on Bleu's Map of Liddesdale, 1654, marked
Puddingburn on the map in Border Exploits of 1 8 1 2. It
is about 1% miles from Maingertoun. [Border Ex-
ploitSy 18 1 2, pp. 226, 227.)

"The place was pointed out to me in about 1858. There
then were the remains of a tower which stood on a small plateau
where the Dow Sike and the Blaik Grain join the Stanygillburn,
a tributary of the Tinnisburn. Some remains of the building
may still be traced at the northern angle of the sheepfold, of
which it forms part. The walls that remain are 4 feet 3 inches
thick and measured on the inside about 6 feet high. They ex-
tend about 18 feet 6 inches in one direction and 14 feet in an-
other, forming portions of two sides with the angle of the tower.
There must have been a considerable building of a rude kind."
(Robert Bruce Armstrong.)

Tinnisburn stood at the foot of Tinnishill, not far
from the old Standing Stane. The ruins formed in i 800
a sheepfold on the farm of Reidmoss, about one and a
half miles from Kershope Foot. According to the old
ballads of Liddesdale, John of Puddingburn, the Laird's
Jock, had sons Fair Johnie and Will a' Grena. According
to Border Exploits^ edit. 1 8 1 2, Fair Johnie and Jock o' the
Side were the same, and brother to Will a' Grena.

Dick 0 The Cow.
Communicated to Percy by Roger Halt in 1775.

" Now Liddisdale has lain long in,
There is no rideing there a ta;
Their horse is growing so lidder and fatt
That are lazie in the sta.

250 €l^vonkU0 of tf)e %tmflttw{ffi

" Then Johne Armstrang to Willie can say,
Billie, a ridcing then will we ;
England and us has been long at a feed ;
Perhaps we may hitt of some bootie.

"Then they'r comd on to Hutton Hall,
They rade that proper place about ;
But the laird he was the wiser man,
For he had left nae gear without.

"Then he had left nae gear to steal.
Except six sheep upon a lee ;
Says Johnie, I'de rather in England die
Before their six sheep good to Liddidalc with me.

" * But how cald they the man we last with mett,
Billie, as we came over the know?*

* That same he is an innocent fool.

And some men call him Dick o The Cow.*

" ' That fool has three as good kyne of his own
As is in a' Cumberland, billie,' quoth he:
' Betide my life, betide my death.
These three kyne shal go to Liddisdale with me.'

"Then they're comd on to the poor fool's house,
And they have broken his wals so wide;
They have loosed out Dick o the Cow's kyne three.
And tane three coerlets off his wife's bed.

"Then on the morn, when the day grew light.
The shouts and crys rose loud and high :

* Hold thy tongue, my wife,' he says,
'And of thy crying let rhe bee.

" * Hald thy tongue, my wife,' he says,

* And of thy crying let me bee.

And ay that where thou wants a kow.
Good sooth that I shal bring the three.*

€t)e i^ou^e of Sl^aingartoun 251

" Then Dick's comd on to lord and master,
And I wate a drerie fool [was] he :

* Hald thy tongue, my fool,' he says,

* For I may not stand to jest with thee.'

" * Shame speed a your jesting, my lord,* quo Dickie,
' For nae such jesting grees with me;
Liddesdaile has been in my house this last night,
And they have tane my three kyne from me.

" * But I may nae langer in Cumberland dwel.
To be your poor fool and your leel.
Unless ye give me leave, my lord.
To go to Liddisdale and steal.'

"*To give thee leave, my fool,' he says,

* Thou speaks against mine honour and me;
Unless thou give me thy trouth and thy right hand
Thou'l steal frae nane but them that sta from thee.'

"'There is my trouth and my right hand;
My head shal hing on Hairibie,
rie never crose Carlele sands again,
If I steal frae a man but them that sta frae me.*

" Dickie has tane leave at lord and master,
And I wate a merrie fool was he ;
He has bought a bridle and a pair of new spurs,
And has packed them up in his breek-thigh.

"Then Dickie's come on for Puddinburn,
Even as fast as he may drie ;
Dickie's come on for Puddinburn,
Where there was thirty Armstrongs and three.

" ' What's this comd on me ! ' quo Dicke,
' What meakle wae's this happened to me,' quo he,

* Where here is but ae innocent fool.

And there is thirty Armstrongs and three!*

252 €f^nnitU0 of tf)e %vmfntwQit

** Yet he's comd up to the hall among them all ;
So wel he became his courtisie :
' Well may ye be, my good Laird's Jock !
But the deil bless all your companie.

" ' I'm come to plain of your man Fair Johnie Armstrong,
And syne his billie Willie,' quo he;

* How they have been in my house this last night,
And they have tane my three ky frae me.'

" Quo Johnie Armstrong, We'll him hang;

* Nay,' thain quo Willie, * we'll him slae ; '

But up bespake another young man, We'le nit him a

four-nooked sheet,
Give him his burden of batts, and lett him gae.

" Then up bespake the good Laird's Jock,
The best falla in the companie :
Sitt thy way down a little while Dicke,
And a piece of thine own cow's hough I'l give to thee.

" But Dicki's heart it grew so great

That never a bitt of it he dought to eat;
But Dickie was warr of ane ould peat-house.
Where there al the night he thought for to sleep.

" Then Dickie was warr of that auld peat-house,
Where there al the night he thought for to ly;
And a' the prayers the poor fool prayd was,

* I wish I had a mense for my own three kye ! *

" Then it was the use of Puddinburn,
And the house of Mangertoun, all haile!
These that came not at the first call
They gott no more meat till the next meall.

"The lads, that hungry and aeveery was.
Above the door-head they flang the key;

€fyt l^ou^e of a^amgertoutt 253

Dickie took good notice to that ;
Says, There's a bootie younder for me.

"Then Dickie's gane into the stable,
Where there stood thirty horse and three;
He has ty'd them a' with St. Mary knot,
All these horse but barely three.

" He has ty'd them a' with St. Mary knott,
All these horse but barely three;
He has loupen on one, taken another in his hand.
And out at the door and gane is Dickie.

"Then on the morn, when the day grew light,
The shouts and cryes rose loud and high ;
'What's that theife?* quo the good Laird's Jock;
'Tell me the truth and the verity.

"'What's that theife?' quo the good Laird's Jock;
'See unto me ye do not lie:*

' Dick o the Cow has been in the stable this last night,
And has my brother's horse and mine frae me.'

" * Ye wad never be teld it,* quo the Laird*s Jock ;
' Have ye not found my tales fu leel?
Ye wade never out of England bide.
Till crooked and blind and a' wad steal.'

" ' But will thou lend me thy bay ? * Fair Johne Arm-
strong can say,
'There's nae mae horse loose in the stable but he;
And rie either bring ye Dick o the Kow again.
Or the day is come that he must die.'

" ' To lend thee my bay,' the Laird's Jock can say,
* He's both worth gold and good monie;
Dick o the Kow has twa horse,
I wish no thou should no make him three.'

254 €f^x(mitU0 of tt^t %tm^mQ0

"He has tane the Laird's jack on his back,
The twa-handed sword that hang lieugh by his thigh ;
He has tane the steel cap on his head,
And on is he to follow Dickie.

"Then Dickie was not a mile off the town,
I wate a mile but barely three,
Till John Armstrong has oertane Dick o the Kow,
Hand for hand on Cannobei lee.

"'Abide th[e], bide now, Dickie than.
The day is come that thow must die;'
Dickie looked oer his left shoulder;
'Johnie, has thow any mo in thy company?

" ' There is a preacher in owr chapell,
And a' the lee-lang day teaches he ;
When day is gane, and night is come.
There's never a word I mark but three.

"'The first and second's Faith and Conscience;
The third is, Johnie, Take head of thee;
But what faith and conscience had thow, traitor,
When thou took my three kye frae me?

"'And when thou had tane my three kye.
Thou thought in thy heart thou no wel sped;
But thou sent thi billie Willie oer the know.
And he took three coerlets of my wife's bed.*

"Then Johne lett a spear fa leaugh by his thigh,
Thought well to run the innocent through ;
But the powers above was more than his,
He ran but the poor fool's jerkin through.

"Together they ran or ever they blan —
This was Dickie, the fool, and hee —
Dickie could not win to him with the blade of the sword.
But he feld [him] with the plummet under the eye.

€f)e l^ou^e of a^omgcrtoun 255

" Now Dickie has [feld] Fair Johne Armstrong,
The prettiest man in the south countrey ;

* Gramercie,' then can Dickie say,

* I had twa horse, thou has made me three.'

" He has tane the laird's jack off his back,
The twa-handed sword that hang leiugh by his thigh ;
He has tane the steel cape off his head:

* Johnie, I'le tel my master I met with thee.'

" When Johne wakend out of his dream,
I wate a dreiry man was he :
' Is thou gane now, Dickie, than?
The shame gae in thy company!

"* Is thou gane now, Dickie, than?
The shame go in thy companie!
For if I should live this hundred year,
I shal never fight with a fool after thee.'

" Then Dickie comed home to lord and master.
Even as fast as he may driee :
' Now Dickie, I shal neither eat meat nor drink
Till high hanged that thou shall be!'

" ' The shame speed the iiars, my lord ! ' quo Dickie,

* That was no the promise ye made to me;
For I'd never gane to Liddisdale to steal
Till that I sought my leave at thee.'

"* But what gart thow steal the Laird's-Jock's horse?
And, limmer, what gart thou steal him?' quo he;

* For lang might thow in Cumberland dwelt
Or the Laird's Jock had stoln ought frae thee.'

"'Indeed I wate ye leed, my lord.
And even so loud as I hear ye lie;
I wan him frae his man, Fair Johne Armstrong,
Hand for hand on Cannobie lee.

256 €f^tonit\t0 of tt^t ^tmHttongft

" * There's the jack was on his back,
The twa-handed sword that hung lewgh by his thigh;
There's the steel cap was on his head ;
I have a' these takens to lett you see.'

" ' If that be true thou to me tels —
I trow thou dare not tel a lie —
rie give thee twenty pound for the good horse,
Wei teld in thy cloke-lap shall be.

"'And rie give thee one of my best milk-kye.
To maintain thy wife and children three;
(And that may be as good, I think.
As ony twa o thine might be.)'

"'The shame speed the liars, my lord!' quo Dicke,
' Trow ye ay to make a fool of me ?
rie either have thirty pound for the good horse.
Or els he's gae to Mattan fair wi me: '

" Then he has given him thirty pound for the good horse,
All in gold and good monie;
He has given him one of his best milk-kye.
To maintain his wife and children three.

" Then Dickie's come down through Carlile town,
Kven as fast as he may drie :
The first of men that he with mett
Was my lord's brother, Bailife Glazenberrie.

" * Well may ye be, my good Ralph Scrupe ! '
' Welcome, my brother's fool,' quo he;
' Where did thou gett Fair Johnie Armstrong's horse? *

* Where did I get him but steall him,' quo he.

" * But will thou sell me Fair Johnie Armstrong ['s] horse ?
And billie, will thou sel him to me?' quo he:

* Ay, and tel me the monie on my cloke-lap.
For there's not one farthing I'le trust thee.'

€l^e !^ou^e of S^aingertoun 257

" * ric give thee fifteen pound for the good horse,
Wei teld on thy cloke-lap shal be ;
And rie give [thee] one of my best milk-kye,
To maintain thy wife and thy children three.'

" * The shame speed the liars, my lord ! ' quo Dicke,

* Trow ye ay to make a fool of me ? ' quo he :

* rie either have thirty pound for the good horse.
Or else he's to Mattan Fair with me.'

" He has given him thirty pound for the good horse,
All in gold and good monie ;
He has given him one of his best milk-kye.
To maintain his wife and children three.

" Then Dickie lap a loup on high,
And I wate a loud laughter leugh he :

* I wish the neck of the third horse were browkcn,

For I have a better of my own, and onie better can be.'

" Then Dickie comd hame to his wife again ;
Judge ye how the poor fool he sped ;
He has given her three score of English pounds
For the three auld coerlets was taen of her bed.

" * Hae, take thee twa as good kye,
I trow, as al thy three might be ;
And yet here is a white-footed naigg ;
I think he'le carry booth thee and me.

" * But I may no langer in Cumberland dwell ;
The Armstrongs the'le hang me high : '
But Dickie has tane leave at lord and master,
And Burgh under Stanemuir there dwels Dickie."

The following are the names of Armstrong branches
included in an official list of the commencement and
all but completion of an intended roll of the names of

258 Ct^vonitlcH of ti)e ^vm^ttctiQ^

the landed proprietors over the whole of Scotland in
1590, from the records of the privy council, entitled,
"The Roll of the Clannis that has Capitanis, Cheffis,
Chiftenis, quhomeon they depend, oftymis aganis the
willis of thair Landislordis, alsweill on the Bordouris as
Hiclandis, and of sum special personis of branches of
the saidis Clannis."

"Landit Men" in Roxburgh: Mangerton, Ouhittauch,

Ailmure.
"In Dumfries": Holihouse (Gilnockie's Tower).

Ailmure, named in the foregoing list, now called
Aislie-moor, just above Kirndean on the Liddal, was
the home of that branch of the Armstrongs represented
in 1563-66 by Hector of Harelaw, with the Cuts and
the Grieves. There was another Hector Armstrong, but
he was Sande's Eckie, one of Alexander of the Chen-
gills' seven sons, very active in the Border wars of 1580
to 1600. Hector of Harelaw lived to be over a hun-
dred years old, and spent his last days with the Grahms
of Eskdale; he was son of George Armstrong mentioned
in 1 5 10. George Armstrong was chief of the Arm-
strongs of Ailmure in 1500. Hector of Harelaw had
a brother named George, who was called for distinc-
tion's sake "Hectors bruither" and "George in Ral-
toun," meaning that he was a tenant in Raltoun but was
not of that place; there was also Edmund, or Edward,
belonging to the same family. This family was very
powerful about 1500; they dwindled away in the lat-
ter part of the sixteenth century. George, "Hectors
bruither," it is said, settled in Cumberland and became

€f^c ^on^c of iSt^amgertoun 259

the founder of the house of Willicva, or, as it was
anciently called, Willieaway. Patrick, another brother,
disappeared about 1510. The house of Ralston, more
frequently called of the Gingles, of which 111 Will's
Sande was the chief, is not named in the list, he being
at the time a partisan of England.

In 1591-92, immediately following Simon lord of
Maingertoun's name, we find that of Sym Armstrong
younger of Rinch or Runchback. (Stoddart's Scottish
Arms.)

In the year 1593 the hereditary feud between the
Johnstones and the Maxwells was revived, which re-
sulted in a fierce battle at Dryffe Sands, not far from
Lockerby. The most renowned and bravest warriors
among the Border families took part in this fight.
Lord Maxwell, warden of the West Marches, armed
with royal authority, and numbering among his fol-
lowers all the barons of Nithdale, displayed his banner
as the king's lieutenant and invaded Annandale at the
head of 2,000 men. Buccleuch, the Elliots, the Arm-
strongs, and the Graemes, now reunited, came to the
assistance of the Johnstones, whose army, although in-
ferior in numbers, gained a decisive victory. Lord
Maxwell, a tall man and heavily armed, was struck in
the flight from his horse and cruelly slain. The hand
which he stretched out for quarter was severed from
his arm. This exploit was afterwards commemorated
upon gravestones of Johnstone's descendants by an up-
raised hand with palm closed and two fingers stretched
forward; to the sinister chief a sun, to the dexter base
a crescent, which interpreted signifies, ** Mercy, mercy,

260 Ct)ronitIe^ of t^t ^firm^troturitf

night and day." Many of the Johnstones went to Fer-
managh, where later generations became great friends
of the Armstrongs. The fatal battle was followed by a
long feud attended with all the circumstances of horror
proper to a barbarous age. John lord Maxwell, son to
him who fell at the battle of Dryffe Sands, avowed the
deepest revenge for his father's death and afterwards
treacherously killed Sir James Johnstone. Having ven-
tured to return from France, whither he had fled, he
was apprehended lurking in the wilds of Caithness,
brought to trial at Edinburgh, his estates forfeited, and
on May 2ist, 1613, was beheaded. The origin and
details of this feud may be found in this work under
October 14th, 1527, March 31st, 1528, February 14th,
1545, 1547, 1550, 1578, and 1598. (See 'Johnstoni
HistoriOy p. 493.)

" Adieu, my ladye, and only joy.
For I may not stay with thee.

" Though I hae slain the Lord Johnstone,
What care I for their feid ?
My noble mind their wraith disdains —
He was my father's deid.
Both night and day I labour'd oft
Of him avenged to be ;
But now I've got what lang I sought.
And I may not stay with thee.

" Adieu Drumlanrig, false wert aye.
And Cioseburn in a band !
The laird of Lag, frae my father that fled.
When the Johnston struck afl^ his hand.

1596.

€^t I^ou^e of iQ^oingertoun 261

" Adieu ! Lockmabcn's gates sae fair,
The Langholm-holm, where birks there be ;

" Adieu ! fair Eskdale up and down,
Where my puir friends do dwell ;
The bangisters will ding them down,
And will them sair compell.
But I'll avenge their feid mysell.
When I come o'er the sea! "

( " Lord Maxwell's Good Night." )

William Armstrong of Kinmont, — called Kin-
mont Will, Kinmouth, Kinnenmouthc, Kynin-
mouth, Kinmonde, and, in Monipenny's List of 1597,
Sandeis Barne Will of Kinmouth, — an inhabitant of the
Debateable Land, was unlawfully seized by the English
whilst returning from a Border meeting before the ex-
piration of the truce and imprisoned in Carlisle Castle.
Buccleuch, then warden of the Scottish Border, in vain
applied to the English court for redress. Thinking him-
self and his prince touched in point of honor, he, with
two hundred horsemen, suddenly entered England, sur-
prised Carlisle Castle, while certain Borderers scaled the
walls and brought off the prisoner in presence of Lord
Scrope, his deputy Salkeld, and the garrison. They
effected their retreat into Scotland without the loss of a
man, although the town had taken the alarm before the
enterprise was accomplished and could have mustered
one thousand men in the city and castle. The tower
of Kynmouth was at the junction of the Esk and the
Liddal. [Border Exploits.)

262 €I)ronicIeje( of ti)e %mistttonQ0

A partial list of the men who forced the castle was
obtained by Lord Scrope. It includes, as might be ex-
pected, not a few Armstrongs, and among them the laird
of Maingertoun, Christy of Barngleish, son of Gilnockie,
and four sons of Kinmont Will, two Elliots, but not Sir
Gilbert, and four Bells. (Francis James Child.)

Kinmont Will lived to a good old age, and was in-
terred in an ancient burying-ground near the tower of
Sark. The tombstone over his grave had, through time,
sunk almost level with the ground; the characters upon
it were nearly obliterated and fast hastening away never
to be again remembered when a few gentlemen by name
of Armstrong and Graham, who seem to have possessed
some portion of the spirit of the long ago departed Kin-
mont Willie, voluntarily contributed the expense of re-
modelling the tombstone according to its ancient form
and to preserve the original formation of the characters.
This was accomplished about the year 1 800. The
Armstrongs who lived at Morton Tower (Tower of
Sark) appear to have borne similar arms to those regis-
tered in 1674. Will of Kinmont had at least seven
sons; among them were Jock o* the Gingles, Archie
o* the Gingles, Georde o' the Gingles, and Robert.
(Nicolson & Burns, History of Northurnberland^ vol. i,
Ixxxii. English and Scottish Popular Ballads^ vol. vi, p.
471. Border Exploits, edit. 1812, p. 328. See 1569.)

Dike Armestronge of Dryup, also mentioned in the
ballad of Kinmont Will, appears, in a list of the princi-
pal men in Liddesdale, made when Simon Armstrong
was laird of Maingertoun, among Simon's uncles or
uncles' sons. He dwelt near "High Morgarton" (Main-

€^t f^ovL^t of Q^aingmoun 263

gcrtoun). Dick of Dryup is complained of, with others,
for reif and burning in 1583, 1586, 1587, 1603, and
his name is among the outlaws proclaimed at Carlisle
July 23d, 1603. [English and Scottish Popular Ballads,
part vi, p. 471.)

Ballad of Kinmont mil.

" O have ye na heard o the fause Sakelde ?

0 have ye na heard o the keen Lord Scroop ?
How they hae taen bauld Kinmont Willie,
On Hairbee to hang him up ?

" Had Willie had but twenty men,
But twenty men as stout as he,
Fause Sakelde had never the Kinmont taen,
Wi' eight score in his companie.

" They band his legs beneath the steed.
They tied his hands behind his back ;
They guarded him, fivesome on each side.
And they brought him ower the Liddelrack.

" They led him thro* the Liddel-rack,
And also thro' the Carlisle sands ;
They brought him to Carlisle castell.
To be at my Lord Scroope's commands.

" * My hands are tied, but my tongue is free,
And whae will dare this deed avow ?
Or answer by the Border law ?
Or answer to the bauld Buccleuch ? '

" * Now haud thy tongue, thou rank reiver !
There's never a Scot shall set ye free ;
Before ye cross my castle-yate,

1 trow ye shall take farewell o me.'

264 €f^nmt\tif of t^e %tmitttimQ^

" * Fear na ye that, my lord,* quo Willie ;

* By the faith o my bodie. Lord Scroop,' he said,

* I never yet lodged in a hostelrie
But I paid my lawing before I gaed.'

" Now word is gane to the bauld Keeper,
In Branksome Ha where that he lay,
That Lord Scroope has taen the Kinmont Willie,
Between the hours of night and day.

" He has taen the table wi his hand,
He garrd the red wine spring on hie ;
' Now Christ's curse on my head,' he said,

* But avenged of Lord Scroope I'll be !

" ' O is my basnet a widow's curch ?
Or my lance a wand of the willow-tree ?
Or my arm a ladye's lilye hand?
That an English lord should lightly me.

"'And have they taen him Kinmont Willie,
Against the truce of Border tide,
And forgotten that the bauld Bacleuch
Is keeper here on the Scottish side ?

" * And have they een taen him Kinmont Willie,
Withouten either dread or fear,
And forgotten that the bauld Bacleuch
Can back a steed, or shake a spear ?

" ' O were there war between the lands.
As well I wot that there is none,
I would slight Carlisle castell high,
Tho it were builded of marble-stone.

" * I would set that castell in a low,
And sloken it with English blood;
There's nevir a man in Cumberland
Should ken where Carlisle castell stood.

€i)e ^tmUt of iSt^amgcrtoun 265

" * But since nae war's between the lands,
And there is peace, and peace should be,
I'll neither harm English lad or lass,
And yet the Kinmont freed shall be ! *

" He has calld him forty marchmen bauld,
I trow they were of his ain name.
Except Sir Gilbert Elliot, calld
The Laird of Stobs, I mean the same.

" He has calld him forty marchmen bauld,
Were kinsmen to the bauld Buccleuch,
With spur on heel, and splent on spauld,
And gleuves of green, and feathers blue.

" There were five and five before them a',
Wi hunting-horns and bugles bright;
And five and five came wi Buccleuch,
Like Warden's men, arrayed for fight.

" And five and five like a mason-gang.
That carried the ladders lang and hie ;
And five and five like broken men ;
And so they reached the Woodhouselee.

" And as we crossed the Bateable Land,
When to the English side we held.
The first o men that we met wi,
Whae sould it be but fause Sakelde !

" * Where be ye gaun, ye hunters keen ? '
Quo fause Sakelde ; * come tell to me ! *

* We go to hunt an English stag,
Has trespassd on the Scots countrie.'

" * Where be ye gaun, ye marshal-men ? *
Quo fause Sakelde : * come tell me true ! '

* We go to catch a rank reiver.

Has broken faith wi the bauld Buccleuch.'

266 C()comclej^ of tf)e %vmfttttinfi0

u t

Where are ye gaun, ye mason-lads,
Wi a' your ladders lang and hie ? '
* We gang to herry a corbie's nest,
That wons not far frae Woohouselee.'

" * Where be ye gaun, ye broken men ? *
Quo fause Sakelde ; * come tell to me ! *
Now Dickie of Dryhope led that band.
And nevir a word o lear had he.

" ' Why trespass ye on the English side ?
Row-footed outlaws, stand ! ' quo he ;
The neer a word Dickie to say,
Sae he thrust the lance thro his fause bodie.

" Then on we held for Carlisle toun.
And at Staneshaw-bank the Eden ' we crossed ;
The water was great, and meikle of spait.
But the nevir a horse nor man we lost.

" And when we reached the Staneshaw-bank,
The wind was rising loud and hie;
And there the laird garrd leave our steeds,
For fear that they should stamp and nic.

" And when we left the Staneshaw-bank,
The wind began full loud to blaw ;
But 'twas wind and weet, and fire and sleet,
When we came beneath the castel-wa.

" We crept on knees, and held our breath.
Till we placed the ladders against the wa ;
And sae ready was Buccleuch himsell
To mount the first before us a'.

"He has taen the watchman by the throat,
He flung him down upon the lead :

I Should be Esk.

€!)e f^QU^t of O^aingertoun 267

* Had there not peace between our lands,
Upon the other side thou hadst gaed.

" ' Now sound out, trumpets ! * quo Buccleuch ;

* Let's waken Lord Scroope right merrilic ! '
Then loud the Warden's trumpet blew

* O whae dare meddle wi me ? '

" Then speedilie to wark we gaed,
And raised the slogan ane and a',
And cut a hole thro a sheet of lead,
And so we wan to the castel-ha.

" They thought King James and a' his men
Had won the house wi bow and speir;
It was but twenty Scots and ten
That put a thousand in sic a stear !

" Wi coulters and wi forehammers.
We garred the bars bang merrilie,
Untill we came to the inner prison.
Where Willie o Kinmont he did lie.

" And when we cam to the lower prison,
Where Willie o Kinmont he did lie,

* O sleep ye, wake ye, Kinmont Willie,
Upon the morn that thou's to die? '

* O I sleep saft, and I wake aft,
It's lang since sleeping was fleyd frae me;
Gie my service back to my wyfe and bairns,
And a' gude fellows that speer for me.'

" Then Red Rowan has hente him up.
The starkest man in Teviotdale :
* Abide, abide now, Red Rowan,
Till of my Lord Scroope I take farewell.

268 <CI)rontcIeje( of t()e ^Cnnisrtcongitf

" ' Farewell, farewell, my gude Lord Scroopc !
My gude Lord Scroope, farewell ! ' he cried ;
' I'll pay you for my lodging-maill
When first we meet on the border-side.'

" Then shoulder high, with shout and cry,
We bore him down the ladder lang;
At every stride Red Rowan made,
I wot the Kinmont's aims played clang.

"*0 mony a time,* quo Kinmont Willie,
' I have ridden hors2 baith wild and wood ;
But a rougher beast than Red Rowan
I ween my legs have neer bestrode.

"'And mony a time,' quo Kinmont Willie,
' I've pricked a horse out oure the furs;
But since the day I backed a steed,
I ne/ir wore sic cumbrous spurs.'

" We scarce had won the Staneshaw-bank,
When a' the Carlisle bells were rung.
And a thousand men, in horse and foot,
Cam wi the keen Lord Scroope along.

" Buccleuch has turned to Eden water,
Kven where it flowd frae bank to brim,
And he has plunged in wi a' his band.
And safely swam them thro the stream.

" He turned him on the other side.
And at Lord Scroope his glove flung he :
* If ye like na my visit in merry England,
In fair Scotland come visit me ! '

" All sore astonished stood Lord Scroope,
He stood as still as rock of stane;
He scarcely dared to trew his eyes
When thro the water they had gane.

€I)e !^ott^e of S^amgertoun 289

"'* He is cither himsell a devil frae hell,
Or else his mother a witch maun be ;
I wad na have ridden that wan water
For a' the gowd in Christentie.' "

{English and Scottish Popular Ballads.)

Robert Bruce Armstrong informs us that William
Armstrong, called Will of Kinmont, lived in Morton
Tower, a little above the Marchdike-foot. He appears
to have been a son of Alexander Armstrong alias 111
Will's Sande. Haribee was the place of execution out-
side of Carlisle. The Liddel-rack is a ford in that
river, which, for a few miles before it empties into the
Esk, is the boundary of England and Scotland. Branx-
holm, or Branksome, is three miles southwest, and
Stobs about four miles south, of Hawick. Woodhouselce
was a house near Kinmouth on the Scottish border, a
little west of the junction of the Esk and Liddal, occu-
pied by one of the Armstrongs.

About this time we find the name John of
V ■^"'* Holihous, or of the Hollows House. The
Hollows was another name for Gilnockie's Castle. John
o' the Hollows was also called by the Cumberland peo-
ple Jock o' the Glen. He was son of Christopher
called John's Christe, and was a grandson of the
famous Gilnockie. (See 1562.)

Monipenny's List of the Border Clans in /jp/,
from the edition of 160J.

EAST MARCH.

Brumfields.
John Brumfield, tutor of Greynelawdene, Adam Brumfield of
Hardaikers, Brumfield of Pittilisheuch, Alexander Brumfield

270 Cbronicleitf of tf)e %xm0ttongft

of Eastficld, Alexander Brumfield of Hasilton Maynes, James
Brumfield of Whytehouse, the Laird of Todderike, Alexander
' Brumfield of Gordon Maines.

7ro(ter,

The Laird of Pentennen, William Trotter of Foulschawe,
Cuthbert Trotter in Fogo, Tome Trotter of the Hill.

DiksoMS.
The goodman of Buchtrig, The goodman of Bolchester, Dik-
son of Hassington, Dikson in Newbigging.

Ridpaths.
Thomas Ridpath of Crumrig, Alexander Ridpath of Angel-
raw.

Haillies.
The goodman of Lambden, John Haitlie of Brumehill,
George Haitlie in Haidlaw, Lawrence Haitlie in Haliburton.

Gradenis,
Jasper Graden in Ernislaw.

Toung.

James Young of the Criffe, Will Young of Otterburne, David
Young of Oxemsyde, William Scott of Feltershawes.

Davisons.
Roben Davison of Symanton, Jok Davison of Quhitton,
James Davison of Byrnirig, George Davison ofThrogdan.

Pringils.
James Hoppringill of Towner, Walt Hoppringill of Clifton,
John Hoppringell of the Bents, David Hoppringill of the
Morbottle.

Tales.

Will Tate in Stankfurde, David Tate in Cheritries, David

Tate in Bair-ers, Will Tate in Zettane.
Middclmaist.

Robin Middlemaist in Milrig.

Burnes.
David Burne of Ellisheuch, Ralph Burne of the Coit.

Cl^f ^QVi^t of d^ahtgertoun 271

Daglescbes.

Jok Dagleschcs of Bank, Robert Daglcschcs in Wideopcn.
Gi/chrisfis.

Hugh Gilchrists called of Cowebene, Will Gilchrist in Caver-

toun.

Hall.

John Hall of Newbigging, George Hall called Pats Gcordie
there, Andrew Hall of the Sykes, Thorn Hall in Fowlschiels.

Pyle.
George Pyle in Milkheuch, John Pyle in Swynsydc.

Robeson.
Ralph Robeson in Prenderlech, Rinzean Robeson in Howston.

Ainislie.
William Ainslie of Fawlaw, Lancie Ainslie in Oxnem.

Oliver.
David Oliver in Hynhanchheid, Will Oliver in Lustruther,
George Oliver in Clarely.

Laidlow.
Ryne Laidlow in the Bank, John Laidlow in Sonnysyde.

LIDDESDAIL.

The Laird of Mangerton (Armstrong), The Lairds Jok (Arm-
strong), Chrystie of the Syde (Armstrong).

^hitbaucb.
The Laird of Quhithauch (Armstrong), Johnie of Quhithauch
(Armstrong), Sym of the Maynes (Armstrong).

Merietown ^ater.
Archie of Westburnflat (Armstrong), Wanton Sym in Quhit-
ley Syde (Armstrong), Will of Powderlanpat (Armstrong).

El lots.
Redheuch, Robert Eliot and Martyne Eliot.

Thoirlishop.
Rob of Thoirlishop, Arthur fyre the Brays (Elliot).

272 4^timU\tft of tf|e ^ntijf trongil

Gorum&erie.
Archie Keene, Wil of Morspatrikshors (Elliot).

Parke.
Johnne of the Park, Gray Will (Elliots).

Burnheid.
Gawins Jok, Adc Cowdais.

fVehchaw.
Wil Colichis Hob, Hob of Bowholmes.

Niksons.

John Nikson of Laicst burnc, Georgies Harie Nikson, Cleme
Nikson, called the Crune.

Crosers.
Hob Croser called Hob of Ricarton, Martin Croser, Cokkis
John Croser, Noble Clemeis Croser.

Hendersons.

' Rinzian Henderson in Armiltonburne, Jenkyne Henderson in
Kartley.

DEBAITABLE LAND.

Sandeis Barnes Armestrangs.
Will of Kinmouth, Krystie Armestrang, John Skynbanke.

Lardis Rinzians Gang.
Lairdis ^inziane, Lairdis Robbie, Rinzian of Wauchop (all
Armstrongs).

Grahams.
Priors John and his Bairnes, Hector of the Hawlaw, The
griefs and cuts of Harlaw (Armstrong).

EWISDAILL.

Armestrangs of the Gyngils.
Ekke of the Gyngils, Andrew of the Gyngils, Thome of Glen-
doning.

Scotts.
Thome of the Flower, Anfe of the Busse.

€i)e f^tmsft of a^aingertotttt 273

Ei/ots.
John the Portars sonne, Will of Dcvislcycs, Wil the lord.

ESKUAILL.

Battisons of Cowghorlae.
David Batie, Hugh Batie, Mungoes Arthurie, Adame of the
Burne.

Batisons of the Scheill.
Nickol of the Scheill, Androw of Zetbyre, John the Braid,
Wat of the Corse.

Jobnes.

John Armstrang of Hoilhous, John Armstrang of Thorne-
quhat, Will Armstrang of Ternsnihil.

Littils.
John Littill of Casshoke, Thome Littill of Finglen, Ingra-
hames Archie Littill.

ANANDAILL.

Irwingis.
Edward of Bonschaw, Lang Richies Edward, John the young
Duke, Chrystie Cothquhat, Willie of Graitnayhill.

Bellis.

Will Bell of Alby, John of the Tourne, Mathie Bell called the

King, Andro Bell called Lokkis Andro, Will Bell Reidcloke.
Carlilles.

Adam Carlile of Bridekerk, Alexander Carlile of Egleforhame.
Grahams.

George Grahame of Reupatrik, Arthour Grahame of Blawold-

wood, Richie Grahame called the Plump.
Thompsons.

Young Archie Thomson, Sym Thomson in Polloden.

Romes.
Roger Rome in Tordoweth, Mekle Sandie Rome there.

Gasses.
David Gasse in Barch, John Gasse Michael's sonne in Rig.
18

27^ €f^ttnm\t0 of tf)e ^rm^trongier

Monipcnny says the last twenty-one, viz.: the Irvings,
Bells, Carlisles, Grahams, Thomsons, Romes, and Gasses,
were " Chief men in name not being lairds." The list
is not a perfect one. The author has omitted even the
names of the Homes, Kers, Johnstones, Turnbulls, and
others, and has hardly named the Scotts. In this year
we also hear the ballad names The Gude Laird's Jock,
Simon of Tweeden, Fair Johnie, Will a' Grena, and
Walter called the Laird's Wat.

Q Halbert or Hobbie Noble appears to have

•^^ * been one of numerous English outlaws who,
being forced to flee their own country, had established
themselves on the Scottish Borders, where he was har-
bored by the Armstrongs. He took part in the de-
liverance of Jock o' the Side from Newcastle jail (see
1569) so stirringly related in the Ballad of Jock o' the
Side. As Hobbie continued his depredations into Cum-
berland, the English bribed certain of his host to de-
coy him into England under pretense of a predatory
expedition. He was there delivered by his treacherous
companions into the hands of the officers of justice, by
whom he was conducted into Carlisle and executed on
the following morning. Simon Armstrong, ninth lord
of Maingertoun, with whom Halbert was in high favor,
is said to have taken severe revenge upon the traitors
who betrayed him. The principal contriver of the
scheme, Sim o' the Maynes, fled into England from
the resentment of his chief He experienced there the
common fate of a traitor, being himself executed at
Carlisle about two months after Hobbie's death. Such
is at least the tradition of Liddesdale. Sim o' the

€l)e I^oujB^e of a^mn.tertotm 275

Maynes appears in Monipenny's List of 1597 among
the Armstrongs of Quhithauch, now called Whithaugh,
in Liddesdale. The Maynes or Mains was anciently a
border keep near Castletown, on the north side of the
Liddal a little above Whithaugh.

Hobbie Noble.

" Foul fa* the breast first Treason bred in !
That Liddesdale may safely say ;
For in it there was baith meat and drink,
And corn unto our geldings gay.

"And we were a' stout-hearted men.
As England she might often say;
But now we may turn our backs and flee.
Since brave Noble is sold away.

" Now Hobbie was an English man.
And born in Bewcastle dale;
But his misdeeds they were so great,
They banish'd him to Liddesdale.

" At Kershope foot the tryste was set,
Kershope of the lilye lee:
And there was traitour Sim o' the Mains
And with him a private companie.

"Then Hobbie has graithed his body fair,
Baithed wi' the iron and wi' the steel;
And he has ta'en out his fringed grey.
And there, brave Hobbie, he rade him wccl.

"Then Hobbie is down the water gane.
E'en as fast as he could hie ;

Tho' a' should hae bursten and broken their hearts,
Frae that riding-tryst he wad na be.

270 Cdrontclei^ of tt^t %m\fftnng^

" * Well be ye met, my feres [companions] five !
And now, what is your will wi' me?'
Then they cried wi' a', ae consent,
* Thou'rt welcome here, brave Noble, to me.

" ' Wilt thou with us into England ride.
And thy safe warrand we will be?
If we get a horse worth a hundred pound,
Upon his back thou sune sail be.'

"*I dare not by day into England ride;
The land-sergeant has me at feid ;
And I know not what evil may betide,
For Peter of Whitfield, his brother, is dead.

"'And Anton Shiel he loves not me,
For I gat twa drifts o' his sheep;
The great earl of Whitfield' loves me not.
For nae gear frae me he e'er could keep.

" * But will ye stay till the day gae down.
Until the night come o'er the grund.
And I'll be a guide worth ony twa
That may in Liddesdale be found?

" ' Though the night be black as pick and tar,
I'll guide thee o'er yon hil) sae hie;
And bring ye a' in safety back,
If ye'U be true and follow me.'

" He has guided them o'er moss and muir.
O'er hill and hope, and rnony a down.
Until they came to the Foulbogshiel,
And there brave Noble lighted down.

I Whitfield was a large and wild manorial district m the extreme southwest
part of Northumberland.

€I)e I^ott^e of O^atngertoun 277

" But word is gane to the land-sergeant,
In Askerton' where that he lay —
* The deer, that ye hae hunted sae lang.
Is seen into the Waste this day.'

"*The Hobbie Noble is that deer!
I wat he carries the style fii* hie;
Aft has he driven our bluidhounds back.
And set ourselves at little lee.

« (

Gar warn the bows of Hartlie-burn,
See they sharp their arrows on the wa' !
Warn Willeva' and Speir Edom,
And see the morn they meet me a'.

" * Gar meet me on the Roderic-haugh
And see it be by break o' day ;
And we will on to Conscouthart-green,
For there, I think, we'll get our prey,'

"Then Hobbie Noble has dreimit a dreim.
In the Foulbogshiel 3 where that he lay;
He dreimit his horse was aneth him shot,
And he himself got hard away.

" The cocks *goud [began] craw, the day 'goud daw.
And I wot sae even fell down the rain ;
Had Hobbie na wakened at that time.
In the Foulbogshiel he had been ta'en or slain.

" * Awake, awake, my feres five !
I trow here make a fu' ill day;

1 Askerton is an old castle, now ruinous, situated in the wilds of Cumber-
land about seventeen miles northeast of Carlisle, amidst that mountainous and
desolate tract of country bordering upon Liddesdale emphatically termed the
Waste of Bewcastle.

2 Willieva and Speir Edom are small districts in Bewcastledale, through which
the Hanlie-burn takes its course.

3 Foulbogshiel, Rodcric-haugh, and Conscouthart-green are in the Waste of
Bewcastle.

278 CfjroniclciBf of tt^t 3CrmjBitron0iflf

Yet the worst cloak o' this company,
I hope shall cross the Waste this day.'

"Now Hobble thought the gates were clear;
But, ever alas ! it was na sae;
They were beset by cruel men and keen.
That away brave Hobbie might na gae.

" ' Yet follow me, my feres five,
And see ye keep of me gude ray ;
And the worst cloak o' this company.
Even yet may cross the Waste this day.'

" But the land-sergeant's men cam Hobbie before,
The traitour Sim cam Hobbie behin'.
So had Noble been wight as Wallace was,
Away, alas ! he might na win.

"Then Hobbie had but a laddie's sword;
But he did mair than a laddie's deed ;
For that sword had clear'd Conscouthart-green,
Had it not broke o'er Jerswigham's head.

"Then they hae ta'en brave Hobbie Noble,
Wi's ain bowstring they band him sae;
But his gentle heart was ne'er sae sair,
As when his ain five bound him on the brae.

" Thev hae ta'en him on for west Carlisle ;
They ask'd him, if he kend the way?
Though much he thought, yet little he said;
He knew the gate as weel as they.

" They hae ta'en him up the Ricker-gate ; '
The wives they cast their windows wide;
And every wife to another can say,

■ 'That's the man loosed Jock o' the Side!"

1 Street in Carlisle.

2 See I $69.

€^t ^ou^t of a^ahtgertoun 279

" ' Fy on ye, women ! why ca' ye me man ?
For it's nae man that I'm used like;
I am but like a forfoughen' hound,
Has been fighting in a dirty syke.'

" They hae had him up through Carlisle toun
And set him by the chimney fire;
They gave brave Noble a loaf to eat.
And that was little his desire.

"They gave him a wheaten loaf to eat.
And after that a can of beer;
And they a' cried, with one consent,
*Eat, brave Noble, and make gude cheir.

" * Confess my lord's horse, Hobbie,' they said,
'And to-morrow in Carlisle thou's na dee.'
* How can I confess them,* Hobbie says,
'When I ne'er saw them with my ee?*

"Then Hobbie has sworn a fu' great aith.
By the day that he was gotten and born,
He never had onything o' my lord's.
That either eat him grass or corn.

"'Now fare thee weel, sweet Mangerton !
For I think I'll ne'er thee see;
I wad hae betray 'd nae lad alive.
For a' the gowd o' Christentie.

"'And fare thee weel, sweet Liddesdale !
Baith the hie land and the law;
Keep ye weel frae the traitor Mains !
For goud and gear he'll sell ye a'.

"'Yet wad I rather be ca'd Hobbie Noble,
In Carlisle, where he suffers for his fau't,
Than I'd be ca'd the traitor Mains,
That eats and drinks o' the meal and maut."

{Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.)

I Quite fatigued.

280 4!^vimitUft of tf)e %vm0ttimsif

Birrcll, the Edinburgh diarist, writes, May 27th,
1598: "The Laird of Johnstone's picture was hung
at the [market] Cross" of Edinburgh "with his head
downwards, and declared a mansworn man, and upon
June 5th he and his accomplices were put to the horn
and pronounced rebels at the cross by open proclama-
tion." This appears to have been in consequence of
Johnstone having failed to seize "John and Jock Arm-
strong," otherwise known as John of Tinnisburn and
Fair Johnie, as he had been directed by the Privy
Council on June 29th, 1597; so his enemies accused
him of collusion with them. (HisL Families of Dum-
fries s hire ^ p. 127.)

In this year the Armstrongs and their adherents were
brought to subjection after the passes leading to their
fastnesses had been pointed out to the English warden
and the approaches by his directions occupied. The
clans of Liddesdale, when attacked by an overwhelming
force, were wont to retire to Tarras Moss, a morass of
considerable extent and depth, in the center of which
some firm ground was to be found, the passes to which
were only known to themselves. To this isolated spot they
removed their families, cattle, and movable property, and
were in comparative safety unless betrayed by some
treacherous Borderer.

The Armstrongs had plundered Haltwhistle in one of
their predatory excursions. Upon which satisfaction was
demanded from the king of Scotland. The king re-
plied that the offenders were no subjects of his and the
English warden might take his own revenge. Accord-
ingly the English entered Liddesdale and ravaged the

C[)e i^oti^e of ^aingertoun 281

lands of the outlaws, on which occasion John Ridley of
Haltwhistle encountered Young Sim Armstrong of Cat-
hill and thrust a spear through his body, leaving it
broken in him, of which wound he died. This act and
the manner in which it was done so incensed the Arm-
strongs that they vowed cruel revenge. The incident
procured another visit from the Armstrongs, when they
burnt a great part of Haltwhistle, but not without losing
one of their leaders, Wat Armstrong, brother of the
Laird of Tinnisburn, who was shot with an arrow from
a window by Alec Rydly.

The Fray o Hautwessel.

(An old Northumberland Ballad.)

" The limmer thieves o' Liddesdalc
Wad nae leave a kye in the hail countric;
But an we gie them the caud steel,
Our gear they'll reive it a' awaye ;
Sae pert they steaiis 1 you say:
O' late they came to Hawtwessyll,
And thowt they there wad drive a fray,
But Alec Rydly shotte tae well.

"Twas sometime gane, they tuik our naigs.
And left us eke an empty Byre;
I wad the deil had had their craigs,
And a* things in a bleeze o' fire:
Eh ! but it raised the wardens ire,
Sir Robert Carey was his name;
But and John Rydly thrust his speir
Reet thro o' the Cathill's wame;

282 €f^rtimt\t0 of tfje ^CrmiBftrongi^

" For he cam riding o'er the brae,
As gin he ca'd na stele a cowe ;
And when we'd got our gear awa'
Says — 'Wha! this day's wark will avowe.'
I wot he got reply enowe,
As ken the Armstrangs to their grief.
For to tine the gear and Simmy too,
The ane to the tither's nae relief.

" Then cam Wat Armstrang to the toun,
Wi' some three hundred chiel or mair,
And sweir that they wad bren it down,
A' clad in Jack, wi' bow and spear,
Harneist reet weel, I trow they were:
But we were aye prepared at need,
And dropt ere lang upon the rere
Amaingst them, like an angry gleed.

"Then Alec Rydly he lette flee
A clothyard schaft, ahint the wa';
It struk Wat Armstrang in the ee'.
Went thro' his steel cap, heed and a' :
I wot it made him quickly fa'.
He ca'd na rise, tho he essayed;
The best at thieve craft or the Ba',
He neer again shall ride a raid.

" Gin should the Armstrangs promise keep.
And seek our gear to do us wrang;
Or mischiefe off our kye or sheepe,
I trow but some o' them will hang:
Sharp is the sturdy sleuth dog's fang.
At Crawcragge watchers will be sette.
At Linthaugh Ford tae, a' meet lang.
Wow! but the meeting will be het."

{Borderer's Table Book, vol. vi, p. 310.)

€i)e f^mmt of i^amgertoun 283

"The death of this young man," says Sir Robert
Carey, "wrought so deep an impression upon them, as
many vowes were made, that before the end of next
winter, they would lay the whole Border waste. This
was done about the end of May [1598]. The chiefe
of all these outlaws was old Sim of Whitram. He had
five or six sonnes, as able men as the Border had. This
old man and his sonnes had not so few as two hundred
at their command, that were ever ready to ride with
them to all actions, at their beck.

"The high parts of the marsh towards Scotlande were
put in mighty fear, and the chiefe of them, for them-
selves and the rest, petitioned to mee, that and did assure
mee, that unless I did take some course with them by the
end of next summer, there was none of the inhabitants
durst, or would stay in their dwellings the next winter,
but they would fley the country, and leave their houses
and lands to the fury of the outlawes. Upon this com-
plaint, I called the gentlemen of the countrey together,
and aquainted them with the misery that the highest
parts of the Marsh towards Scotland were likely to en-
dure, if there were not timely prevention to avoid it, and
desired them to give mee their best advice what course
was fitt to be taken. They all showed themselves will-
ing to give mee their best counsailes, and most of them
were of opinion that I was not well advised to refuse
the hundred horse that my lord Euers had; and that
not my best way to aquaint the quene [Queen Eliza-
beth] and counsaille with the necessity of having more
soldiers, and that there should not be less than a hun-
dred horse sent down for the defence of the countrey.

284 Ci)romcIeje( of tf)e ^rmjsrtrongjtf

besides the forty I had already in pay, and that there
was nothing but force of soldiers could keep them in
awe; and to let the counsaile plainly understand that
the marsh, of themselves, were not able to sussist,
whenever the winter and long nights came in, unlesse
present cure and remedy were provided for them. I de-
sired them to advise better of it, and see if they find
out any other means to prevent their mischievous inten-
tions, without putting the quene and countrey to any
further charge. They all resolved that there was no
second meanes. Then I told them my intention what I
meant to do, which was, that myself, with two deputies,
and the forty horse that I was allowed, would, with
what speed we could, make ourselves ready to go up to
the Wastes, and there wee would entrench ourselves,
and lye as near as we could to the outlaws; and if there
were any brave spirits among them that would go with
us, they should be very wellcome, and fare and lye as
well as myselfe; and I did not doubt, before the sum-
mer ended to do something that would abate the pride
of these outlawes. Those that were unwilling to haz-
ard themselves liked not this motion. They said, that,
in so doing, I might keep the countrey quiet the time
I lay there; but, when the winter approached, I could
stay there no longer, and that was the theeves' time to
do all their mischiefe. But there were divers young
gentlemen that offered to go with mee, some with
three, some with four horses, and to stay with mee as
long as I would there continue. I took a list of those
that offered to go with mee, and found that with my-
self, my officers, the gentlemen, and our servants, we

€^e f^miiSt of iSl^atngertoun 285

should be about two hundred good men and horse; a
competent number, as I thought, for such a service.

"The day and place were appointed for our meeting
in the Wastes, and, by the help of the foot of Liddes-
dale and Risdale, we had soon built a pretty fort, and
within it we had all cabines to lye in, and every one
brought beds or mattresses to lye on. There we staid
from the middest of June, till almost the end of August.
We were betweene fifty and sixty gentlemen, besides
their servants and my horsemen, so that we were not so
few as two hundred horse. Wee wanted no provisions
for ourselves nor our horses, for the country people
were well paid for anything they brought us; so that
we had a good market every day, before our fort, to
buy what we lacked. The chief outlawes, at our com-
ing, fled their houses where they dwelt, and betooke
themselves to a large and great forest (with all their
goodes,) which was called the Tarras. It was of that
strength, and so surrounded with bogges and marish
grounds, and thicke bushes and shrubbes, as they feared
not the force nor power of England nor Scotland, so
long as they were there. They sent me word, that I
was like the first puffe of a hagasse, hottest at the first,
and bade me stay there as long as the weather would
give me leave. They would stay in the Tarras wood
till I was weary of lying in the Waste: and when I had
had my time, and they no whit the worse, they would
play their parts, which should keep me waking the
next winter. Those gentlemen of the country that
came not with mee, were of the same minde; for they
knew (or thought at least) that my force was not suffi-

286 <C()ronicIeie( of tf)e ^nnjmongier

cicnt to withstand the furey of the outlawes. The time
I staid at the fort I was not idle, but cast, by all means
I could, how to take them in the great strength they
were in. I found a means to send a hundred and fifty
horsemen into Scotland (conveighed by a muffled man,
not known to one of the company) thirty miles within
Scotland, and the business was carried so, that none in
the countrey tooke any alarm at this passage. They
were quietly brought to the backside of the Tarras, to
Scotland-ward. There they divided themselves into
three parts, and took up three passages which the out-
lawes made themselves secure of, if from England side
they should at any time to put at. They had their
scoutes on the tops of hills, on the English side, to give
them warning if at any time any power of men should
come to surprise them. The three ambushes were
safeley laid, without being discovered, and, about four
o'clock in the morning, there were three hundred horse,
and a thousand foot, that came directly to the place
where the scoutes lay. [P'rom this it would appear that
Carey, although his constant attendants at the fort con-
sisted of 200 horse, had upon this occasion collected a
much greater force.] They gave the alarm ; our men
brake down as fast as they could into the wood. The
outlawes thought themselves safe, assuring themselves at
any time to escape; but they were so strongly set upon,
on the English side, as they Were forced to leave their
goodes, and betake themselves to their passages towards
Scotland. There was presently five taken of the prin-
cipal of them. The rest, seeing themselves, as they
thought, betrayed, retired into the thicke woodes and

€f)e ^ou^t of a^ahtgertoun 287

bogges, that our men durst not follow them for fear of
losing themselves. The principall of the five that were
taken, were two of the eldest sonnes of Sim of Whitram,
These five they brought to mee at the fort, and a num-
ber of goodes, both sheep and kine, which satisfied
most part of the country that they had stolen them
from.

"The five that were taken, were of great worth and
value amongst them; insomuch, that for their liberty, I
should have what conditions I should demand or desire.
First all English prisoners were set at liberty. Then
had I themselves, and most part of the gentlemen of
the Scottish side so strictly bound in bondes to enter to
mee, in fifteen days warning, any offender, that they
durst not for their lives break any covenant that I made
with them; and so, upon these conditions, I set them
at liberty, and was never after troubled with these kind
of people. Thus God blessed me in bringing this great
trouble to so quiet an end; wee brake up our fort, and
every man retired to his own house." (Carey's Memoirs,

The people of Liddesdale have retained by tradition
the remembrance of Carey's Raid, as they call it. They
tell that while he was besieging the Armstrongs in the
Tarras they contrived, by ways known only to them-
selves, to send a party into England, who plundered the
warden's lands. On their return they sent Carey one
of his own cows, telling him that, fearing he might fall
short of provisions during his visit to Scotland, they had
taken the precaution of sending him some English beef
The remains of the camp on Cairby hill, betwixt Lid-

288 C^ronicIejBt of tf)e %vmftttmQit

dal and Kcrshope, answer exactly to the description of
the fort. (Border Exploits. Minstrelsy.)

In Carey's raid upon the Armstrongs of Liddesdale
his army consisted of three hundred horse and a thou-
sand foot. With this force he only succeeded in captur-
ing five Armstrongs, "two of which were the eldest
sonnes of Sim of Whitram." Nevertheless he accom-
plished a great deal afterwards by his kindness.

Carey says in his Memoirs: **The Armstrongs kept
me so on work that I had no time to redress it; but
having overmastered them, and the whole march being
brought to a good stay and quietness, the beginning of
next summer I wrote to Fernihirst, the warden over
against me, to desire him to acquaint the gentlemen of
his march, that I was no way unwilling to hinder them
of their accustomed sports to hunt in England as they
ever had doney but with all I would not by my default
dishonour the queen and myself, to give them more
liberty than was fitting. I prayed him therefore, that
if they would according to ancient custom [see 1518-
1528J send to me for leave, they would have all the
contentment I could give them; if otherwise they
would continue their wonted course, I would do my
best to hinder them.

"Notwithstanding this letter, within a month after
they came and hunted as they used to do without leave,
and cut down wood, and carried it away. I wrote
again to the warden, and plainly told him, I would not
suffer one other affront, but if they came again without
leave they should dearly aby it. For all this they would
not be warned; but towards the end of the summer

€f)e f^ou^t of O^aingertoun 289

they came again to their wonted sports. I had taken
order to have present word brought to me, which was
done. I sent my two deputies with all the speed they
could make, and they took along with them such gen-
tlemen as was in their way, with my forty horse, and
about one of the clock they came up to them, and set
upon them; some hurt was done, but I gave especial
orders, they should* do as little hurt, and shed as little
blood as possibly they could. They observed my com-
mand, only they broke all their carts, and took a dozen
of the principal gentlemen that were there, and brought
them to me at Witherington, where I there lay. I
made them welcome, and gave them the best entertain-
ment that I could. They lay in the castle two or three
days, and so I sent them home, they assuring me, that
they never would hunt there again without leave, which
they did truly perform all the time I stayed there; and
I many times met them myself, and hunted with them
two or three days; and so we continued good neighbors
ever after: but the king [King James VI of Scotland]
complained to the queen very grievously of this fact.
The queen [Elizabeth] and council liked very well what
I had done."

In a bond of manrent, granted by Simon

jyy* Elliot of Whytheuch, in Liddesdale, to Lord
Maxwell, styled therein earl of Morton, dated Febru-
ary 28th, 1599, William Armstrong, called Will of
Kinmond, appears as witness. (Syme's MSS. in Min-
strelsy of the Scottish Border.)

In Liddesdale a rude species of chivalry was in con-
stant use, and single combats with the sword and lance
"9

290 Ci^roniclejtf of tf)e 311mije(tron0j^

were practised as the amusements of the few intervals
of peace. Tournayholm, now called Turnersholm, was
from medieval times a place where tourneys or tourna-
ments and games of chivalry were often solemnized.
Here the river Kershope falls into the Liddal after •
forming the boundaries of the two kingdoms for several
miles. Near by Kinmont Will was taken prisoner
whilst returning from the border truce. At Kershope
foot the tryste was set whenas Hobbie Noble met the
traitor Sim o* the Maynes and with him a private com-
pany. Upon this field brave Will a' Grena was slain by
the sword of Stanegirthside, as will be related.

Although the title of chief was not inherited by
John of Tinnisburn, the Gude Laird's Jock, a name
which he bore long after his father's death, he none
the less possessed the hearts of the Liddesdale folk.
This esteem he acquired by his generous demeanor, his
courage, and prowess. Physically he was a man of
heroic form and great strength, attributes which he
upheld to an extreme old age. In the single combat he
was unrivalled. No champion of the English Border
could endure the sway of his great two-handed sword.
But the time came when he no longer swung this awful
weapon so renowned in the traditions of his race, neither
was there any member of the clan with whom its keep-
ing could be intrusted; for according to their belief the
sword was tempered with the blood, and therefore spirit,
of their illustrious ancestor, and only them would it
serve who were worthy to wield its magic. So highly
were its virtues prized, they carved its image upon

Cl)e t^im^t of ^^amgertoun 291

escutcheons above the sacred hearth and upon the rude
monuments which marked the graves of departed chiefs.
At length Will a* Grena was challenged by Foster of
Stanegirthside. The heart of the old man swelled with
joy when he heard that the challenge had been ac-
cepted. But notwithstanding his emotion he had mis-
givings as to the outcome of the duel; not on ac-
count of the lad's moral unworthiness, but of his youth-
ful incapacity to successfully combat the superior adroit-
ness and cunning of his adversary. It was therefore
with trembling and apprehension that the old cham-
pion yielded up the sword at his son's appeal to be
allowed to save with it the family honor; for the price
of defeat in this trial would be the loss of the relic.
When the day of combat arrived, bedridden though he
was, the old man insisted on being present at the battle.
In spite of his lovely daughter's protests he was borne
by his friends, wrapped in blankets, from Tinnisburn to
Tournayholm, where he was placed upon a shaft of
stone, now broken but still called the Laird's Jock's
stone, to witness the conflict. In the duel his son fell,
so the minstrel tells us, treacherously slain by Stanegirth-
side, who "unawares did thrust him through ere Gre-
nah's sword was drawn." It is told that when the
father saw his son there dead and his weapon gone he
let forth such a wail of despair that it was heard echo-
ing throughout the dale, and continued, fainter and
fainter, long after the sun went down ; his loving friends
received him in their arms, and he died as they bore
him home.

292 €t^xmit\tfi of tt^t %tm^ttong0

mil a GrenaFs Death.

Where Kershope 'twixt the kingdoms flows,
May still be seen the plain,
Where brave Armstrong of Greenah fell.
And was by Foster slain.

" Disputes between them ran so high,
Nought could allay their pride.
But Will of Greenah he must die.
Or Foster of Stongarthside.

"A duel's set; the day arriv'd.
And both must take their fates ;
For it was fix'd, whoe'er surviv'd
Should heir both the estates.

"To borrow Side's' well proven sword,
Did Will of Greenah hie
Unto Heugh head, where Jock lay sick.
Who gave *t reluctantly.

" Upon a stone near the Heugh-head,
Jock caus'd him rais'd to be ;
That when the combatants engag'd.
He might the battle see.

" With anguish he did soon behold
Base Foster's brandish'd sword ;
Sure proof that Greenah was no more,
And he was Greenah's Lord.

" By fraud did Foster gain the field :
Ere Greenah's sword was drawn,
He unawares did thrust him through.
Base coward ! with his brand.

t The Ltird's Jock, not Jock o' the Side.

€l^e f^tm^t of lei^amgertoun 293

"Then Foster left the Stongarthside,
And did at Greenah dwell ;
Untill that he by Liddal's lord
On his own threshold fell."

The Death of Simony Ninth Lord of Mangerton.

(The story of Jock o' the Side's revenge is related in detail under the title of
"The Lord of the Hermitage" in Wilson's Tales of the Borders.')

"This Foster had a daughter Fair,
And countless suitors came,
To pay addresses to this maid.
Who was a lovely dame.

"Lord Douglas too of Hermitage
' Mongst others did appear,
Of mighty border chieftains bold,
That drew the glittering spear.

" Who often in the field of fame,
With noblest courage stood;
And often southern plains had drcnch'd
With Scotland's en'my's blood.

" Lord Douglas sent her father word.
He might expect him there,
At Greenah, to behold the maid.
His lovely daughter fair.

"The day arrived; the morning rose;
And Douglas of Hermitage,
Well mounted on a courser swift,
In glorious equipage,

" Did fly like lightning o'er the plain,
Where Liddal's streamlet flows;
And soon arrived at the spot.
Where Foster's halls arose.

204 C^tonkltH of t^e S^rmjtftrongjf

" He boldly call'd at Foster's door,

* Where is your daughter dear ? '
But Foster loudly did reply,

* My daughter is not here.

" ' She is upon a visit gone,
A long, long time ago,
And where your slave, my daughter, is,
I'm sure I do not know.

" ' Had she but been within these halls.
She'd been at your command : '
But by her father she'd been sent
Into the southern land.

"The subtile irony he heard,
Then vengeful Douglas sped
To aim a wound at Foster's heart.
And from his presence fled.

"The populace rose, the populace ran.
And nigh had Douglas slain;
But by the swiftness of his horse.
He 'scap'd along the plain,

"To Mangerton's high lofty towers.
And that brave lord was there.
Walking upon the battlements.
To breathe the cooling air.

"He heard the shouts, he heard the cries.
And soon he did espy
A mighty crowd, and Douglas brave
Before that force did fly.

" Lord Mangerton did interpose.
And Douglas did rescue
From his tumultuous crowd of foes.
That did him thus pursue.

€l^e ^mi^t of a^aittjrtttoun 285

" Within Lord Mangcrton's strong towers,
Douglas to him did say :
*To you I owe my life, my lord.
How shall I you repay?

** * O gratitude's a debt, my lord,
I'll ever owe to thee;
At Hermitage I'll thee reward.
When thou dost visit mc'

"That fatal morn did soon arrive,
Armstrong his fate should meet;
From Hermitage he would not stay.
All that his friends could treat.

With courtesy he was received;
But ever since that day,
Mangerton's words appeared his foes,
He sought that Lord to slay.

"And Mangerton was basely slain.
While at the festal board: —
This is the recompense was made.
For saving Liddal's Lord.

" But from the fury of his friends
Lord Douglas fled with speed:
Jock o' the Side him long did seek,
Dress'd in a beggar's weed.

At last he found out the retreat.
Where Douglas did reside;
He plung'd a dagger in his heart.
And there the tyrant died."

{Border Exploits. See 1548, 1562, 1569, 1578,
1581, 1583, 1584, 1591, 1591, 1597, 1599.)

iairmj2itrong)2i of tl^c ^cbentcentlft Century.

NE might, according to some re-
cords concerning this past period,
receive the impression that there
were hundreds of Armstrongs upon
the Border during the sixteenth cen-
tury. For example, in 1528 they
were mentioned as "the Armstrongs to the number of
3000." But it should be borne in mind that when in
those times the numerical strength of certain Border
families was announced, their adherents were often in-
cluded within the number. The Armstrongs were not
so very numerous. The four branches numbered in
1500 evidently about seventy individuals. In 1563-66
the same branches numbered thirty men. In 1580
there were seventy-nine. Monipenny names in 1597
only twenty-four. In 1600 we still have the four
branches. Then came the feud with Carmichael which
swept away Ninian's branch and was the undoing of
the whole sept. During 1610 to 1620 the Armstrongs,
with few exceptions, all disappeared. Some were ex-
ecuted, as will be seen by later records, others went to
the Belgick wars (see 1603, 1662) and few came back.
, Sir John Carmichael had been a favorite of

the Regent Morton, by whom he was ap-
pointed warden of the Middle Marches in preference

SCrm^trongirf of tt^t Jbtitcnttcntf^ Centurp 297

to a Border chieftain. By such practice Morton meant
to strengthen his authority, instead of which he has-
tened his fall. In the early part of 1600 some of the
gentlemen in attendance on Carmichael, while riding
through Eskdale, offended the family of Larde Ninian
of Raltoun, now an old man, the oldest of 111 Will's
Sande's seven sons and the head of the Wauchope
branch of the family. Not long after this event a
grand foot-ball meeting took place, where it was agreed
by the sons of Ninian and their friends that the only
way to wipe out the stain of that insult was to kill the
warden, who it was deemed countenanced the offence.
This they concluded to do, even though they sacrificed
the life of their brother held as pledge for their branch
of the family. Accordingly the warden was deliber-
ately waylaid and murdered at a place called Raes-
knows, on i6th June, 1600, near Lochmaben, whither
he was going to hold a court of justice, the ringleader
of the slaughter being Ninian's son Thomas, called
Ringan's Thom, the minstrel of the clan. James VI
wrote, March 31st, 1601, to Johnstone, the succeeding
warden, to pursue the murderers with fire and sword and
forbid them rest or comfort within the realm under
pain of death. On April 26th, 1601, James wrote to
Lord Mar proclaiming that the Armstrongs were pro-
tected by the English and especially by the Grahames,
pointing out the sloth of Lord Scrope, warden of the
West Marches of England, adding that the fugitives
being pursued turned chase upon his counsellor and
Laird Johnstone, the Scottish warden, the latter nar-
rowly escaping with their lives. The Armstrongs after-

208 €f)ronicIejtf of tf^t %xmfitttms0

wards raided Johnstone's lands. One by one the mur-
derers of Carmichael were punished. Several went to
Ireland, but the Armstrongs would not leave the Bor-
der. Ninian's house was destroyed by the king's order.
George Sande Grahame was delivered up by the English
warden. Ringan's Thom and Adam Scot were tried at
Edinburgh and condemned to have their right hands
struck off, thereafter to be hanged, and their bodies
gibbeted on Borough Moor; which sentence was exe-
cuted 14th November, 1601. Francis Armstrong was
also captured. Christopher Irvin was hung. Simon de
Musgrave, of the distinguished English Border family,
was described as one of the crew. Herbert Johnstone
was expelled and went to Ireland, where his descen-
dants may still be found; Lord Cumberland purchased
his Border estate. Four years afterwards Sandy Arm-
strong of Rowanburn was executed. (Booh of Adjournal ^
Godscroft, vol. ii, pp. 238-246. Hist. ofLiddesdale^ p. 65.
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border^ edit. London, 1868, pp.
y^, 165. Hist. Families of Dumfriesshire^ pp. 62, 139,
140, 142, 143. Roxburghe Collection^ vol. vi, p. 601.)
The following verses are said to have been composed
by Ringan's Thom. [Roxburghe Collection. Tales of the
Borders t vol. i, p. 650. Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border.)

"This night is my departing night,
For here nae lancer must I stay;
There's neither friend nor foe o' mine,
But wishes me away.

"What I have done thro* lack of wit,
I never, never can recall ;
I hope ye're a' my friends as yet;
Goodnight and joy be with you all ! "

SCrmj^trong^ of t^e Jlbt\ienttcntfy €tntuxp 290

, They had long been people of the past. The

*^ * ardent bearings, — the sword, the arm, and the
tree, — whose tenets they never failed to uphold, were
not devised for them without foresight. It becomes
evident that they, the Armstrongs of the Border, hav-
ing clung to their home for centuries with unyielding
tenacity, throughout all kinds of adversity, even against
royal armies and famines, never despairing, nay, nor
failing in revenge, often in the wrong, standing by each
other, respecting their aged with great devotion, rever-
ing the dead with undying memorials, are passing away,
but not without a great struggle. Even upon the death
of Queen Elizabeth, the remnant of the clan, led by
Archibald, tenth lord of Maingertoun, with his son
Archibald called the young laird, Francis of Whithaugh,
the Standard Bearer, son of Launcelot, and Umgle or
Hingle, brother of the old laird, at the head of two
hundred or more horse, entered England in a hostile
manner and penetrated as far as Penrith with the object
of producing a war between the two countries and pre-
venting the union of the crowns. James VI of Scot-
land, then at Berwick upon his journey to the new
capital, detached a large force under Sir William Selby,
captain of Berwick, to bring the depredators to order.
This raid, remarkable for being the last of any note oc-
curring in the history of the Border, was avenged in an
exemplary manner. Most of the strongholds upon the
Liddal were razed to the foundation. [Minstrelsy of the
Scottish Border^ p. 252, edit. London, 1868. History of
Liddesdaky p. 222.)

Archibald the younger of Maingertoun was pro-

300 Cf)ronicIe^ of tf)e 3Crmie?tron0jB(

claimed an outlaw July 23d, 1603, at Carlisle. It is
said he fled south into England. The tradition of the
passing of 111 Will's Sande, who went to Flanders, and
his last son Archie Armstrong, is told with a few ana-
chronisms in Wilson's Tales of the Border. (Leonard
A. Morrison's pamphlet, Armstrongs of the Border.)

When James VI became king of England, in 1603,
it was of the first importance that the Armstrongs,
Grahms, Littles, Elliots, and other families should be
quelled, lest their incursions upon his new kingdom
should make him unpopular with the English. He
therefore appointed Johnstone of Graitney and two col-
leagues to survey the Debateable Land and surrounding
parts, with the view of placing them under large and
responsible landholders. The name of the Borders was
prohibited, substituting in its place those of the middle
shires. He also ordered all places of strength to be
demolished except the habitations of noblemen and
barons, their iron gates to be made into ploughshares,
and the inhabitants to betake themselves to agriculture
and other works of peace. [Border Clans^ p. 108. Hist.
Families of Dumfriesshire, p. 144.)

A commission sat for twenty years to inquire into the
titles of the landowners on the Borders, and to insure
their pacification; and, as during the wars of which
that district had constantly been the center many title-
deeds were destroyed in burnt houses and towns, it was
a splendid opportunity for those in favor at Court to
increase their possessions where they really had no
claim. The half-heartedncss with which the Border
chiefs threw oft^" Romanism had undoubtedly much to

3Crmi6ftron0;s{ of tl)c ^cbcntccntl) Centurp 301

do with their misfortunes at this time, and while the
Buccleuchs, Douglases, and Murrays, who were staunch
Protestants, received honors and lands; the Armstrongs,
Johnstones, and a few others were despoiled. (Hist.
Families of Dumfriesshire ^ pp. 71, 134.)

About this time Archie Armstrong of the Stubholm,
a youth, was caught and taken before James VI, who
was holding a justice aire at Jedburgh. Condemned to
die, Archie pleaded his youth and pardonable lack of
education. Said he, "I have but recently heard of the
Bible, and am desirous, for my soul's sake, of reading
through the precious volume. Would your Majesty's
grace be pleased to respite me until I have done this?"
King James could not withstand such a petition and
easily acceded, whereupon Archie rejoined with a smile,
"Then de'il tak me an I ever read a word o't as lang
as my een are open ! " Something in the lad's charac-
ter pleased the king, so he took him along with him
and Archie remained at court as King's Jester thirty-two
years. During his long career in that office he acquired
many powerful friends and not a few enemies. He ac-
companied Prince Charlie to Spain in 1623, and was a
welcome visitor to the Spanish court. Philip IV grant-
ed him a pension, of which he received in 1631 the
arrearages, amounting to jf 1500. Charles I provided for
him with great generosity, giving him, among other
grants and life pensions, a thousand acres of land in Ire-
land. Archie was born immediately below the junction
of the Esk and Wauchope at the Stubholm, the home
of Sande's Ekke's Richie, in 1586. Archie's sons
were, Philip, born November 25th, 1628, by his first

302 Cbroniclejtf of t^e %vm^ttonQ^

wife, and Francis, baptized at Arthuret, December 1 7th,
1643, by his second wife Sybella Bell. His brother
James died in 1624 without children. His sister Agnes
married William Grimes and acquired one hundred
acres of the land in Ireland. Archie died in 1672, and,
strange to say, was buried on April ist — "All Fool's
Day." In the churchyard of Arthuret, Cumberland, is
a rude cross with a pierced capital; near it lie the re-
mains of Archie Armstrong, the King's Jester. There
are two known portraits of him, one by Gaywood, the
other by Cecil; reprints of both may be found in the
Costnopolitatiy New York, August, 1891. An interesting
sketch of his life is given by Jamieson in the reprint of
Archie's work entitled A Banquet of Jests, edited in
1872 by William Paterson at Edinburgh.

"The character of the Court fool of former days is com-
monly somewhat undervalued. Generally speaking, he was a
compound of humour, tact, and impudence ; and obtained his
title less from beingy than from p/aying, the fool. In many in-
stances, the man who wore a cap and bells had quite as much
sense as the man who was decorated with a coronet. Archibald
Armstrong was as shrewd, sensible, witty, and good-humoured
an individual as ever filled the high station to which he had
been called. In our times he would have probably been famous
for conversational pleasantry, or as a writer of facetious fiction."
[Jesse's Memoirs.)

" ' I think every day of yourself, and of your Majesty's gra-
cious favour; for you will never be missed till you are gone,
and the child that is unborn will say a praise for you. But I
hope in God, for my own part, never to see it. The further I
go, the more I see, for all that I see here are foolery to you.
For toys and such noise as I see, with God's grace, my

%vmmtmg0 of tf\c ^ebmteentl) Centurp 303

Saviour's, and your leave, I will let you know more whenever
I come to you ; and no more, with grief in my eyes and tears
in my heart, and praying for your Majesty's happy and gra-

Thlfis ntJi^ixd'Se lohnjfwr^SrctnmeriWill;
But her* ijMirlh^awnfrom^Mu^tf quilL
Vmbt not(kindef^uuUt:)be bbLbphssy^to view
Tt^ Mdylistsi Vi^ are net oiJid) but nctv.

ARCHIE THE JESTER. FROM AN OLD PORTRAIT BY CAYWOOD.

cious continous among us. Your Majesty's Servant, Archibald
Armstrong, your x best fool of state, both here and there.
Court of Spain, 28th April. 1623.' (Extracts from Letter to
James I.)

"304 Cbronicleitf of t^e ^tm^mufi

"To jest with kings and princes was pardonable, but that
archbishops should be subject to the gibe of the fool was not
to be borne. Archie's plain speech and border blood frequently
got the better of his prudence; and in expressing too openly
and boldly his contempt for the imperious Laud, he brought
about his own downfall. One day, in presence of the prelate,
he asked to say grace ; and being permitted, he gave forth :
* Great praise be to God, and little Laui^ to the Devil.' The
famous anti-liturgical weapon, the stool of Jenny Geddes, he
facetiously denominated, for Laud's special benefit, * the stool
of repentance'; and while the religious commotions which fol-
lowed the discharge of that well-aimed missile were causing
considerable anxiety at Court, Laud one day, on his way to the
Council Chamber, was assailed by Archie's taunting voice, ex-
claiming in the most expressive Doric, ' Wha's fule noo?' This
was too much for prelatical patience. The incautious Jester
was at once, on Laud's complaint, brought before the king in
council. He pleaded the privilege of his coat, but in vain."
(Preface to Banquet ofJestSy reprint, edit. Edin., 1872.)

" The writer of the Scout's Discovery met Archie a week after
his dismissal at the Abbey of Westminster, *all in black.'
Alas! poor fool, thought I, he mourns for his country. I
asked him about his coat. O, quoth he, my Lord of Canter-
bury hath taken it from me, because either he or some of the
Scots bishops may have use for it themselves, but he hath given
me a black coat for it, to colour my knavery with ; and now I
may speak what I please, so it be not against the prelates, for
this coat hath a far greater privilege than the other had."

On October 28th, 1607, Andro Armestrang in Kirk-
town and Thomas Armestrang of Glendovane were de-
nounced rebels and put to the horn. They were sum-
moned to appear before the privy council, which they
failed to do. Orders were therefore given to the cap-

%tmifttimQ0 of tt^t Jb€\}txttttntt^ Centurp 305

tain of the guard to capture them, take their homes,
and remove their families, because they refused to pay
certain "teynds schaveis" to the Earl of Home. (His-
tory of Liddesdaky p. 105.)

In 1609 the Earl of Dunbar informs the king that
he had cut off "the Laird of Tynwald, Maxwell,
Sundry Douglasses, Johnstones, Jardines, Armstrongs,
Beatisons and sic others," and thereby rendered that
part of the kingdom peaceable. [Border Clans, p. 108.)
, In January, 161 o, Archibald Armestrang the

elder, and tenth lord of Maingertoun, accom-
panied by twenty-four persons, "all bodin in feir of
weir, with swordis, gantillatis, plait slevis and utheris
wappinis, and with jackis, lances, hagbutis, and pistol-
letis," went to his ancestral lands of Grena and Holme,
where certain stacks of corn were standing, and carried
off 240 "thravis" of the said corn. To answer for this
conduct Archibald was ordered to appear before the
council on the ist of March; this he failed to do, and
was consequently denounced rebel and put to the horn.
He was the last of the surname of Armstrong who was
proprietor of Maingertoun. [History of Liddesdale, p.
90. Reg. Secreti Concil. Acta.)

The Maingertoun arms as given in Lord Crawford's
MSS. (1603-12), supposing them to be accurate, would
be those of Archibald Armstrong, tenth lord of Main-
gertoun. (See Stodart's Scottish Arms.)

Heraldists conjecture this to be a cross of the third
crusade, the same as borne by those who followed
Richard Ca^ur de Lion; others a banner of the Knights
of St. John and Malta (see p. 30). The Carliles, Jar-

306

Ci)roni(Iejtf of tf)e %rm0ttmisif

dines, Johnstones, and Kirkpatricks carried the saltire,
and it is believed upon the Border that they adopted it
when fighting with the elder Bruce, Lord of Annan-
dale, against the Saracens. Perhaps, after all, the star
and crescent of the Maingertoun shield (see pp. 32, 33,
195) was a cognizance of the Orient. A star and
crescent are upon the great seals of Richard I, Cceur de
Lion. (See Clark's Heraldry, p. 86, edit. Lond., 1892.
Hist. Families of Dumfriesshire^ p. 3.)

After this we find little mention of the Armstrongs
in the history of the Borders. The precautions adopted
by the Earl of Dunbar to preserve peace on the Borders
bore peculiarly hard upon a body of men long accus-
tomed to the most ungoverned licensed. They appear,
in a great measure, to have fallen victims to the strict-
ness of the new enactments. The lands possessed by
them in former days have chiefly come into the hands
of the Buccleuch family, so that, with one or two ex-
ceptions, we may say that in the country that this war-
like family once occupied there was hardly left a land-
holder of the name. The sterility of the mountainous

SCrm^trongjBf of tfje ^ebcntccntf) €enturp 307

country which they inhabited offered little encourage-
ment to industry, and, for the long list of centuries re-
viewed, the hands of rapine were never there folded in
inactivity nor did the sword of violence rest in the scab-
bard. The evil was found to require the radical cure of
extirpation. Of this time Satchell wrote:

" On the border was the Armstrangs, able men ;
Somewhat unruly, and very ill to tame;
I would have none think that I call them thieves,
For if I did, it would be arrant lies;
For all frontiers and borders, I observe,
Wherever they lie, are freebooters.
And does the enemy much more harms.
Than five thousand marshal-men in arms;
The freebooter ventures both life and limb.
Good wife, and bairn, and every other thing;
He must do so, or else must starve and die;
For all his lively-hood comes from the enemic:
His substance, being, and his house most tight,
Yet he may chance to lose all in a night ;
Being driven to poverty, he must needs a freebooter be,
Yet for vulgar calumnies there is no remedie:
An arrant liar calls a freebooter a thief,
A freebooter may be any man's relief:
A freebooter will offer no man wrong
Nor will take none at any hand;
He spoils more enemies now and then.
Than many hundreds of your marshal men:
Near to a border frontier in time of war:
There ne'er a man but he's a freebooter;
Where fainting fazard dare not show his face;
And calls their offspring thieves to their disgrace;

308 C[)ronicIeje( of tte Sdrm^ongj^

Yet with the freebooter I have not done,

I must have another fling at him,

Because to all men it may appear,

The freebooter he is a volunteer;

In the muster-rolls he has no desire to stay;

He lives by purchase, he gets no pay.

It's most clear a freebooter doth live in hazard's train,
A freebooter's a cavelier that ventures life for gain :
But since King James the sixth to England went.
There has been no cause of grief,
And he that has transgressed since then
Is no freebooter, but a thief."

Among the wedding records of St. Saviour's, South-
wark, England, is the following: "William Weald to
Alice Armestronge, Aug. 8, 1611." [Genealogist^ Keith
Murray, Astor Library.)

, Adam Armstrong was born about 161 2, and

died June iith, 1672. He was father to
Adam Armstrong, born about 1638. See notes under
161 2, 1636, 1672, 1685, 1696, and 1749. Their lineage
for the ensuing three generations ran as follows: Adam
Armstrong, born about 161 2, died June i ith, 1672, had
one son. Adam Armstrong, born about 1636, died May
loth, 1696, had one son. Adam Armstrong, born 1685,
died 1749, aged 64. These births and deaths are also
recorded under their corresponding dates in this work.
The above are recorded in the Canonbie churchyard
on the Border.

Among the wedding records at St. Mary le Strand,

$£rmjertron0jf of tf^t ^ebenteentl) Centurp 309

London, is the following: "William Armcstrongc and
Alice Dunn, per lye. Oct. 3d, 1614." [Genealogist^ Keith,
Astor Library.)

, In a muster of the inhabitants of Virginia,

^* "one Armestronge" died in 1624-25, at
Newport News; he had come from England on a ship
called the Providence ^ in 1623. [Original List of Emi-
grants who went to America idoo—lJOOt edit. London,

1874.)

In "A List of the names of the Dead in Virgn"," of
February i6th, 1623, we find John Armestronge called
"Jocky Armestronge" mentioned among the dead at
"Elisabeth Cittie." [Ibid,)

According to William Armstrong of Caulside, Canon-
bie, Armstrongs belonging to his branch of the family
went to Virginia at about this time.

, In the reign of Charles I, when the old Bor-

^ der practices were not entirely discontinued,
the tower of Gilnockie was occupied by William Arm-
strong called for distinction's sake Christie's Will, grand-
son to the famous John of Gilnockie executed by James
V. It was Christie's Will who kidnapped Sir Alexander
Gibson, lord Durie, a judge of the Court of Session, and
conveyed him blindfolded to an old castle in Annandale,
called the Tower of Graham, which stands upon the
water of Dryfe not far from Moffat. Will immured his
terrified burden in this lonely retreat, there to remain in
darkness for three months, during which time Lord
Durie imagined himself to be in the dungeon of a sor-
cerer. His relatives, supposing him dead, went into
mourning for him. This bold stratagem was to promote

310 €f^ttinic\tff of tf)e SCmiiBrtrongi^

the interest of the first carl of Traquair, lord high trea-
surer of Scotland, whose estate was in peril, and who
was otherwise seriously connected with a lawsuit before
the Supreme Court, the decision of which his lordship
feared would be unfavorable to his interest by the cast-
ing vote of Lord Durie, then acting as Lord Presi-
dent. At length the lawsuit was decided in favor of
Lord Traquair, and Will was directed to set the pres-
ident at liberty. He entered the vault at dead of night,
seized the president, muffled him once more, without
speaking a single word, conveyed him to an unfre-
quented and furzy common called the Frigate Whins,
near the sands of Leith, and set down the astonished
judge on the very spot from which he had taken him.
The joy of his friends and the less agreeable surprise of
his successor, when the worthy judge appeared in court
to reclaim his office and honor, may be easily conceived.
All embraced his own persuasion that he had been spir-
ited away by witchcraft; nor could he be convinced of
the contrary by his more enlightened friends until, many
years after, happening to journey through Annandale,
he heard a familiar shepherd's call, the only note that
had solaced his long confinement. This led to a discov-
ery of the whole story, which in those disorderly times
was only laughed at as a fair ruse de guerre. Soon after
this Will joined the army of Charles L

Strange and wild as the ballad may seem, there is
little doubt of its foundation in fact, a report of the cir-
cumstances being presented in the preface of Forbe's
Journal of the Sessions, Edinburgh, 1 7 1 4. Parts of it were
recited in Ireland, and several of the Fermanagh families

i^cmieitrong^ of t^e ^ebententtl) Cmturp 311

have the armorial device of the hand holding the bridle
upon their escutcheon, illustrating the lines,

" He rode away, at a right round pace,
And Christie's Will held the bridle reyn."

It is well known that during the troubles of Charles I
the Earl of Traquair continued unalterably fixed in his
attachment to his unfortunate master, in whose service
he hazarded his person and impoverished his estate. On
one occasion his lordship dispatched Christie's Will to
London upon business of the highest importance to his
Majesty. But the task was a difficult one, as the Parlia-
mentary leaders used their utmost endeavors to prevent
any communication between the king and his Scottish
friends. Will arrived at London and delivered his papers
in safety. In the meantime his embassy had taken air,
and orders were dispatched by the enemy to intercept
him. He passed skillfully from London to Carlisle, a
distance of 265 miles, stopping at the latter place to
refresh his horse, and then proceeded on his journey.
Crossing the bridge over the Eden just outside of Car-
lisle, he suddenly discovered Parliamentary soldiers
springing up like magic at both ends of the bridge.
There was nothing left to do but take to the water,
which was in high flood. Facing down stream, he pat-
ted his horse's neck, and with a touch of the spur grace-
fully cleared the parapet. Horse and rider were carried
by the swift current to a place called the Stanners, or
Stanhouse, where he guided the horse up the wet bank
but they slipped back into the river. Quickly cutting
the loop that held his long wet cloak, he made for the

312 €^vtnitlt^ of ti^t ^Urmjertrongitf

bank again. With a noble effort the animal brought his
master to firm ground. The soldiers, for a time struck
with wonder, forgot to fire upon him. Two or three
ran down the waterside intending to capture him, but
Will pointed his wet pistol at them, which weapon, al-
though useless, caused them to halt. From the Eden he
was chased to the Esk, which he swam. Gaining the
further side, he wheeled around and in true Border
style called out to his pursuers to come through and
drink with him. They declined, knowing he was in the
neighborhood of friends. After this taunt, he proceeded
on the journey and faithfully accomplished his mission.
Such were the exploits of the very last Border freebooter
of any note. Tradition says William was married to a
distant relative named Margaret Elliot, and had several
children. There was a saying in his time,

" Comes Liddesdale's peace
When the Armstrongs cease."

(Border Exploits, edit. Hawick, 1812, p. 292. Minstrelsy
of the Scottish Border, edit. London, 1868, p. 272. Wil-
son's Tales of the Border, edit. London, vol. ii, p. 736.)

Christies If^ill.

"Traquair has ridden up Chapelhope,

And sae has he down by the Grey Mare's Tail ; '

He never stinted the light gallop,

Until he speer'd for Christie's Will.

I A cataract above Moffat, so called :

'♦deep, deep down and far within.

Toils with the rocks the roaring linn ;

Then, issuing forth one foamy wave.

And wheeling round the giant's grave.

White as the snowy charger's tail,

Drives down the pass of Moffatdalc." (Mannion.)

mmiiBftrongitf of tf^t ^ebcnteetitlj Centurp 313

" Now Christie's Will peep'd frae the tower,
And out at the shot-hole keeked he ;
*And ever unlucky,* quo' he, *is the hour,
That the warden comes to speer for me ! '

" * Good Christie's Will, now, have nae fear !
Nae harm, good Will, shall hap to thee:
I saved thy life at the Jeddart air,
At the Jeddart air frae the justice tree.

" * Bethink how ye sware, by the salt and the bread,
By the lightning, the wind, and the rain,
That if ever of Christie's Will I had need,
He would pay me my service again.'

** * Gramercy, my lord,' quo' Christie's Will,
* Gramercy, my lord, for your grace to me !
When I turn my cheek, and claw my neck,
I think of Traquair and the Jeddart tree.*

" And he has open'd the fair tower yate.
To Traquair and a' his companie :
The spule o' the deer on the board he has set,
The fattest that ran on the Hutton Lee.

** ' Now, wherefore sit ye sad, my lord ?
And wherefore sit ye mournfullie?
And why eat ye not of the venison, I shot,
At the dead of night on Hutton Lee?'

" * O weel may I stint of feast and sport.
And in my mind be vexed sair!
A vote of the canker'd Session Court,
Of land and living will make me bare.

" * But if auld Durie to heaven were flown,
Or if auld Durie to hell were gane.
Or ... if he could but ten days stoun . . .
My bonny braid lands would still be my ain,*

314 <ri)ronitIej^ of tf^t %tm0tnns0

" * O mony a time, my lord,' he said,
'I've stown the horse frae the sleeping loon ;
But for you I'll steal a beast as braid,
For I'll steal lord Durie frae Edinburgh town.

" 'O, mony a time, my lord,* he said,
* I've stown a kiss frae a sleeping wench ;
But for you I'll do as kittle a deed.
For I'll steal an auld lurdane afF the bench/

"And Christie's Will is to Edinburgh gane;
At the Borough Muir then enter'd he;
And as he pass'd the gallow-stane.
He cross'd his brow, and he bent his knee.

" He lighted at lord Durie's door,
And there he knock'd most manflillie;
And up and spake lord Durie sae stour,
'What tidings, thou stalward groom, to me?*

" * The fairest lady in Teviotdale
Has sent, maist reverent sir, for thee;
She pleas at the Session for her land, a' haill.
And fain she wad plead her cause to thee.'

" ' But how can I to that lady ride,
With saving of my dignitie ? *
' O a curch and mantle ye may wear,
And in my cloak ye sail muffled be.*

" Wi' curch on head, and cloak ower face,
He mounted the judge on a palfrey fyne;
He rode away, a right round pace.
And Christie's Will held the bridle reyn.

The Lothian Edge they were not o'er.
When they heard bugles bauldly ring,

SCntijtftrongjtf of tf^t ^ebenteentl^ Centurp 315

And, hunting over Middleton Moor,'
They met, I ween, our noble king.

" When Willie loolc'd upon our king,
I wot a frighted man was he !
But ever auld Durie was startled mair,
For tyning of his dignitie.

" The king he cross'd himself, I wis,
When as the pair came riding bye — •
* An uglier crone, and sturdier loon,
I think were never seen with eye ! '

** Willie has hied to the tower of Graeme,
He took auld Durie on his back,
He shot him down to the dungeon deep,
Which garr'd his auld banes gie mony a crack.

((

For nineteen days, and nineteen nights,
Of sun, or moon, or midnight stern,
Auld Durie never saw a blink,
The lodging was sae dark and dern.

He thought the warlocks o* the rosy cross*
Had fang'd him in their nets sae fast;
Or that the gipsies' glamour'd gang
Had lair'd his learning at the last.

* Hey ! Batty, lad ! far yaud ! far yaud ! ' '
These were the morning sounds heard he;
And ever * Alack ! ' auld Durie cried,
*The deils is hounding his tykes on me!'

1 Middleton Moor is about fifteen miles from Edinburgh, on the way to the
Border.

2 Rosicrucians.

3 The signal made by a shepherd to his dog, when he is to drive twty tome
sheep at a distance. From "yodcn," to go, Ang.-Sax.

318 C[)roniclejtf of tf^t %vmmiinQ0

" And whiles a voice on Baudrons cried,
With sound uncouth, and sharp, and hie ;
' I have tar-barrell'd mony a witch.
But now, I think, they'll clear scores wi' me ! *

" The king has caused a bill be wrote,
And he has set it on the Tron, —
' He that will bring lord Durie back
Shall have five hundered merks and one.'

" Traquair has written a privie letter.
And he has seal'd it wi' his seal, —

* Ye may let the auld brock' out o' the poke;
The land's my ain, and a's gane weel.'

" O Will has mounted his bonny black.
And to the tower of Graeme did trudge,
And once again, on his sturdy back,
Has he hente up the weary judge.

" He brought him to the council stairs.
And there full loudly shouted he,

* Gie me my guerdon, my sovereign liege,
And take ye back your auld Durie ! ' "

William Armstrong, son of Christopher Armstrong
and grandson of the famous John of Gilnockie, left
Scotland with his nephew Andrew some years after the
death of Queen Elizabeth, and settled in the county
of Fermanagh, where he became the founder of a
numerous family whose branches flourished in those
parts. Such were statements made in early editions of
Burke's Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland, for
example in that of 1838, and they accord with the
written statements made by the Armstrongs who landed

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%vmiittmQ0 of tlje ^cbcntecntlj Centurp 317

at Charleston, North Carolina, in 171 7, with the records
of the Armstrongs of Longfield, 1721, and Carrickma-
keegan, 1721, in County Leitrim, with the Terwinney
Records, 1650, and with the lineage of the Armstrongs
of Westcombe Park, London. This William, son of
Christopher and grandson of John of Gilnockie, was
the identical Christie's Will of ballad renown, whose
lineage is set forth in Border ExploitSy edit. Hawick,
1 81 2, p. 292, and by Sir Walter Scott in the Minstrelsy
of the Scottish Border^ edit. London, 1868, p. 259. His
father, called John's Christie, that is to say, John of
Gilnockie's son, is pedigreed in the bond of January
24th, 1557, and in the Elizabethan Report of 1563 to
1566. (See also 1528, 1547, 1562, 1717.) All of these
references and sources may be found chronicled in this
work under their respective years.

Andrew Armstrong (see 1675), nephew of Christie's
Will, son of the elder brother of Christie's Will, em-
braced a military life, and afterwards served as an officer
of honor in the army of Charles I for seven years with
great reputation. (See Burke's Landed Gentry of Great
Britain and Ire land y edition of 1838.)

The Armstrongs who first went to Ireland from
Langholm settled at a place now called Brookboro,
near Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, soon after 1630,
and later were buried at Agahvea, the place of a pre-
historic fortress or "forth." The graves are in the
center of the "rath." The present church is built just
within the circle. Agahvea is about a mile from Brook-
boro. (Edward Armstrong of Terwinney.) /

According to John Taylor, historian of the Arm-

318 €t^vm\itUfi of tf^t %xm0ttmt^if

strongs of Tcrwinney, who lived to be 113 years of
age, the church of Agahvea is built just within the cir-
cle of the prehistoric fortress called "the Place of the
Birches." In about the center of the circle lie the re-
mains of the immediate descendants of Christie's Will.
Ranging from the main path and about thirty feet from
the gate are six vaults, side by side in the order of their
age, all with the Armstrong armorial bearings carved
upon them. The carving of the first and oldest, with
the exception of the coat of arms, is all worn away ; it
marks the grave of a descendant or relative of Christie's
Will. The inscription upon the slab of the next vault,
said to be that of Christie's Will's son, appears to have
been carved at a later period, about 1680; it was part-
ly legible in 1895. Upon this second slab was recorded
the births and deaths of Will's sons Edward and Alex-
ander, and also those of three of his grandsons, — sons
of Edward, — John, Francis, and James. The remaining
monuments mark the graves of later generations, some
of whose descendants went to Philadelphia in this cen-
tury, 1 800-1 850, and some of whose descendants are
still in Brookboro. The editor has spent many plea-
sant hours in Brookboro and its vicinity.

The armorial bearings of Christie's Will are to be
found in the old churchyard of Agahvea, a short dis-
tance from Brookboro, County Fermanagh, Ireland.
With the exceptions of the distinction of the houses,
they are similar, and correspond with a shield of the
year 1733 which until a recent period was in the old
churchyard at Canonbie upon the Border; with an-
other, of the year 1685, which was in the old Ewes

%vm0tttix\s0 of tl^e ^ebmteentfi Centurp 319

^ dro Armslronj

Tohn son

AmfiroTij Jon io E a w r d

AfmsiroT\cjAl2f> ^on foM t
Wh^Dit^ -Monday Pfaw t
n^5 A<j ed 50y

INSCRIPTION ON VAULT IN ACAHVEA CHURCHYARD.

churchyard at Kirktown on the Ewes Water; with one
at Bewcastle, Cumberland County, England; and one
in the old churchyard of the town of Annandale.

320 €t^t<n\iM of tfyt %tmfttvitnQii

Christie's Will, grandson of the first John of Gilnockie,
left descendants in Canonbie. Andro of the Border, son
of Christopher of Aughingill, came from Langholm, not
Maingertoun. Archie the Jester, great-grandson of 111
Will's Sande, left descendants at Arthuret, near Bew-
castle; they were descendants of the Gingles or Cheyn-
gyls. Andro in Kirktown, son of 111 Will's Sande of the
Cheyngils, left descendants on the Ewes Water. Kin-
mont Will, also son of 111 Will's Sande, left descendants
at the Tower of Sark in Annandale. (See letter from
Robert Bruce Armstrong, Edinburgh, January 7th,
1895, and from Edwin E. Armstrong, Detroit, March
2 2d, 1898, to J. L. A. Lineage of the Armstrongs of
Westcombe Parky London. 1596, 1603, 1685, 1733.)

William Armstrong, called Christie's Will, settled in
Ireland, County Fermanagh, about 1630; slain in battle.
King Charles's army, in which he was an officer; living
1 64 1. (From a pedigree sent to James L. Armstrong
of Brooklyn by Edwin E. Armstrong of Detroit.)

" The line on the pedigree I sent you, referring to William
as an officer in army of Charles I and slain in battle, is in pencil,
and was put in after the official record was filed, by whose hand
I do not know, but think likely by Sir Bernard Burke, as there
are other pencil entries in the line of Andrew Armstrong's de-
scendants which appear in Burke's Peerage." (Letter from
Edwin E. Armstrong of Detroit to James L. Armstrong, dated
December 6th, 1897.)

Extracts from the Gamble MSS., Ulster Court.

CONTENTS OF PEDIGREES.

Pedigree L
The Armstrongs of Corby, Tynedale, and Thorpe.

3trmitftnm0jtf of tfje ^ebentccntfj Ccnturp 321

Pedigree II.
The descendants of Thomas Armstrong of Mangerton, 1528
to 1 548 ; and of his brother, John Armstrong, of Giltknock
Hall, who was executed by James V for Border forays.

Pedigree III,
The descendants of Christopher Armstrong (the son of John
of Giltknock) ; and of his grandson, Andrew Armstrong,
b. 1576; d. 1 671; by his first wife, Miss Alexander.

Pedigree IF.
The descendants of Andrew Armstrong, b. 1576; d. 1671 (the
grandson of Christopher) ; by his second wife, Elizabeth
Johnston.

The Subdivisions of Pedigree IV.
I Andrew Armstrong's first son, Edmund, the ancestor of the
Armstrongs of Gallen ; and of the families of Shervinton,
Mills, White, Kelly, Mahon, and others.
1 Andrew Armstrong's second son, Thomas, the ancestor of
the Armstrongs of Ballycumber; and of the families of
Hodson, Burke, Kirwan, Drought, Berry, Vicars, Boyle,
Halahan, and others.

3 Andrew Armstrong's third son, William.

4 Andrew Armstrong's fourth son, Robert, ancestor of General

John Armstrong, engineer-in-chief in England ; and the
families of Buchanan, Berry, Smith, Molloy, and Holmes.

5 Andrew Armstrong's daughters.

Pedigree V.
The descendants of Andrew Armstrong (the grandson of Chris-
topher), by his third wife, Jane Stephenson ; ancestor of the
Armstrongs of Garrycastle, Claremount, Bal Ivor, and Rath-
mackrell ; and the families of Raikes, Gamble, Tarleton,
Hyde, Wood, Morris, and Grant.

Pedigree VI.
Descendants of William Armstrong, younger son of Christo-
pher Armstrong.

322 €f^txmitUfi of t^t %tmtittonQ^

Besides those already mentioned, the following are
descriptions of some of the crests and shields of the
Armstrongs in Ireland:

The crest an arm in armor grasping a sword or,
hiked and pommelled or, is found in Liddesdale, Can-
onbie, and Annandale upon the Border, and is generally
accompanied with the motto Invictus maneo. The Arm-
strongs who went to Fermanagh bore this crest, but not
always the same motto. Their motto was Valida manu.
It may be found with the crest in Brookboro, in the
oldest building there, in Agahvea, in Lowtherstown or
Irvinestown, in Templemaghey near Ederney, and in
several other towns of County Fermanagh.

The crest of William Edward Armstrong, Esq., of
New Hall and Kilkee, Clare, an (armed) hand and arm,
a leg and foot, in rich armor, couped at the thigh.
Motto, Ft et armis. This crest is similar to that of
George De la Poer Armstrong, Esq., of MealifFe, County
Tipperary, and ChafFpoole, County Sligo. The legend
will be found under 1050. (Fairbairn's Crests^ edit.
i860.)

Edmund John Armstrong, Esq., of Willowbank,
County Clare, Ireland, and Adzar House, County Dub-
lin, bears for crest an arm in armor. Motto, In Deo
robur mens. Arms of the Armstrongs of Willowbank,
County Clare, were gu. three arms in armor vambraced
ar. (Fairbairn's Cr<'///, edit, i860.)

The crest of the Armstrongs of Ballycumber, Ireland,
was a dexter arm in armor ar., the hand ppr. Motto,
Vi et artnisy the same as those of Mangerton and Hark-
ness Rig. Canonbie. The arms were gu. three dexter

"Stm^ttim^^ of tf^t j&ebenteenti) Cmturp 323

arms vambraced ar., hands proper. (Fairbairn's Crests,
edit, i860.)

The crest of the Armstrongs of Kings County, Ire-
land, (see pages 20, 39,) was an armed arm holding a
broken tilting-spear ppr. (Fairbairn's Cr^i//, edit, i860.)

The crest of John Warneford Armstrong, Esq., of
Ballycumber, Kings County, was a dexter arm in armor
ar., hand ppr. Motto, Vi et armis. (Fairbairn's Crests,
edit, i860.)

Thomas St. George Armstrong, Esq., of Garry Castle
House, Kings County, had for crest a dexter arm in
armor ar., hand ppr. Motto, Vi et armis. (Fairbairn's
Crests y edit, i860.)

The arms of Armstrong Bart, of Gallen Priory, Kings
County, were, Quarterly ist and 4th ar. ; issuing from
sinister side a dexter arm habited gu., the hand grasp-
ing the trunk of an oak-tree eradicated and broken at
the top ppr. ; 2d and 3d ar. three pallets az. Crest, an
arm embowed, the hand grasping the broken trunk
of an oak-tree eradicated, all proper. Motto, Invictus
maneo.

The crest of Sir Edmund Frederick Armstrong, Bart.,
Ireland, was an arm in armor embowed, the hand grasp-
ing the trunk of an oak-tree eradicated, all ppr. Motto,
Invictus maneo. (Fairbairn's Crests^ edit, i860.)

Arms of Heaton-Armstrongs, conjoined with Mac-
Donnell, uses MacD. crest and arms, also 3d and 4th
grand quarter for Armstrong gu., three dexter arms
vambraced and embowed ppr., in chief dexter point a
mullet or. Crest, ist MacD., 2d Armstrong, a dexter
arm vambraced fessways and embowed proper, charged

324 €'^vimit\t0 of ti)e %vm0ttimQff

with a mullet gu. ; the hand grasping an armed leg,
couped at the thigh and bleeding, all ppr.

The arms of the Armstrongs of Termonfechan, Ire-
land, were per pale gules, and vert, three dexter arms
couped at the shoulders and embowed, the hands
clinched proper. Crest, out of a mural cornet or. an
armed hand embowed, the hand grasping an oak-tree
eradicated proper. Motto, Invictus maneo. Resembling
the arms of those who landed at Portsmouth, Maine, in
1718.

William Jones Armstrong, Esq., of Batleagh Lodge,
Tynan, County Armagh, had for crest a dexter arm in
armor ar., hand ppr. Motto, Vi et armis. (Fairbairn's
Crests^ edit, i860.)

John Armstrong of Sorbie, near Langholm, Scotland,
was born 1632, and died March 17th, 1685, aged 53.
His shield was a hand springing from the sinister side
holding an oak-tree, which leaned from the dexter
chief to the sinister base, the shield charged with a
crescent in the sinister chief and a mullet in the dexter
base, resembling many of the shields in Ireland. Other
records of this family will be found under 1660, 1684,
1685, 1698, 1 7 1 5, 1 7 1 6. ( History of Liddesdaky p. 103.)

, A family of Armstrongs resided at Corby in

^ Lincolnshire. In 1634 Edward, when twenty-
two years of age and unmarried, signed his pedigree of
four generations, commencing with Francys Armstrong
of Corbye (see 1562). The arms of this family were
similar to those of the Thorpe family (see 1377),
namely, gules, 3 dexter arms vambraced proper. [Ro/u-
lorum Orig. Abbrev.^ vol. ii, p. 86.)

'^vm^tarngfi of ti^e ^ebrnteently Cmturp 325

Among the passengers on the Matbew, of which
Richard Goodladd was captain, that sailed from Lon-
don, May 2ist, 1635, for St. Christopher's, was one
called Katherin Armstrong. ( Original Lists of Emigrants
who went to America^ i6oo-lJOOy edit. London, 1874.)

On July 4th, 1635, Henry Armstrong, aged 22, em-
barked on the Transport of London, Edward Walker,
captain, for Virginia. He had procured a certificate
from the minister of Gravesend of his conformity to
the orders and discipline of the Church of England.
( Original Lists of Emigrants who went to America^ 1600—
jyoOy edit. London, 1874.)

, ^ Adam Armstrong was born about 1638, and
^ ' died May loth, 1696. His death is recorded
in this work under its corresponding date. He was son
to Adam Armstrong, born 161 2. He had a son called
Adam, who was born in 1685 — see note under that
year. (From the monument in Canonbie churchyard.)

, In "Abstract of Acts of Settlement and Ex-

^ ' planation, passed in the reign of Charles I in
Parliament begun at Westminster November 30th,
1640," we find the following "Names of Persons in
Grants" (see Records of Ireland): John Armestrong
(John of Longfield), Thomas Armestrong (Sir Thomas,
Sr.), William Armestrong (Christie's Will), Sir Thomas
Chamberlain, Robert Parke.

According to Wood-Martin's work, among others
the following Cromwellian troops disbanded in County
Sligo: Allen, Armstrong, Barber, Irwin, Parke. This
Parke was probably Captain Robert Parke, whose lands
were inherited by Alexander Armstrong of Carrickma-

326 CI)ronicIejet of tte %tmfittim^0

kecgan in County Lcitrim. Alexander was a son of
Christie's Will. (See records of E. E. Armstrong, De-
troit, Mich.)

On May 23d, 1642, "Robert Armstrong, Gent, one
of His Maties Servants, Bootham, in St. Olave, York,"
was one of the officers buried in St. Olave during the
civil wars of England. [Genealogisty by Keith Murray,
1893. See 1056.)

Francis, son of Archibald the Jester, was baptized
December 17th, 1643. (Introduction to A Banquet of
Jests, edit. Edinburgh, 1872.)

/• In "Inrollments of the adjudications in favor

^* of the 1649 officers" (see Records of Ireland,
1821-25, PP- ^^°~^37) there is a long list of names,
among which are John Armstrong (of Longfield),
Quartermaster Armstrong (Sir Thomas the elder was
Quartermaster-General of Horse), Robert Armstrong,
Captain Thomas Armstrong (son of Sir Thomas the
elder). Sir Thomas Armstrong (the elder). These ad-
judications refer to the arrears of commissioned officers
who served Charles II or Charles I in the wars of Ire-
land before June 5th, 1649.

Among those who had claims for having served as
soldiers of the Commonwealth in Ireland was Captain
Robert Parke, who claimed in right of preemption.
When Cromwell went to Ireland the forces of Charles I
divided, part of them serving under Duke of Ormond
for Charles II, part of them going over to Parliamen-
tary forces under Cromwell. Sir Thomas Armstrong the
elder followed Ormond; Captain Parke followed Crom-
well. (Note from E. E. Armstrong, Detroit, Mich.)

Sdrmjettrongj^ of tt^t ^etoentemti) Centttrp 327

"Having received numerous inquiries in relation to these
officers and grants, for the benefit of historical searchers the fol-
lowing list of names and references from among my gleanings
in Ireland is inserted for preservation and reference. It was
taken by the writer from the 'Index Nominum to the Inrol-
ments of Adjudications in favor of the (1649) officers. Pre-
served in the office of the Chief Remembrancer of the Ex-
chequer, Dublin.* The officer in charge March 24, 1892, was
David R. Pigot, Master of the Exchequer. 'Armstrong, John,
roll 2, pp. 88, 89, 90. Armstrong, Quartermaster, roll 2, p. 32.
Armstrong, Robert, roll 2, pp. 88, 89. Armstrong, Captain
Thomas, roll 1, pp. 72, 73. Armstrong, Sir Thomas, roll i,
p. 72.' The lands were given as remuneration for military ser-
vice. The records are written upon parchment, rolled into
great rolls, nearly a foot in diameter, and very heavy, and are
kept in the Public Records office, beside the Four Courts.
The latter is in an immense edifice of stone, in Dublin, Ire-
land." {History of Windham^ N. H., p. /JO.)

"The English army commanded by Colonels Bright
and Pride, and under the conduct of General Cromwell,
on their return to England, did lie at the kirk of Cas-
tleton several nights, in which time they brake down
and burnt the communion tables and the seats of the
kirk; and at their removing carried away the ministers
books to the value of j™ merks and above, and all the
books of the session; with which they lighted their
tobacco pipes, the baptism, marriage and examination
rolls from Oct. 1612 to Sept. 1648, all of which were
lost and destroyed." {History of Liddesdale, p. 93. Border
Exp hit Sy p. 219.)

In 1649 four of Oliver Cromwell's troops entered
the house of one Armstrong of Innerbervie in order to
plunder it. Lying sick upon his bed, he cried out to

328 €f^vonit\tti of tt^t %tm0ttim^ff

fetch him his swaird (sword), and suddenly starting up
he soon expelled the intruders from his house. [Border
Exploits^ p. 219, edit. 181 2, Hawick.)

, Extracts from the Terwinney Records: Tho-

■^ ' mas, the fifth lord of Maingertoun, in the
fifteenth century represented the trunk of the family.
He had four sons, of whom the oldest was Alexander,
who had seven sons, of whom the oldest was Thomas,
seventh lord of Maingertoun. John of Gilnockie was
the second of these seven sons, and it is from him that
all the Armstrongs residing in Ireland during the
seventeenth century descended. The Fermanagh family
descend in the following line: John of Gil lockie,
Christopher of Langholm, William of Gilnockie called
Christie's Will, who died in battle and in the army of
Charles I. (See 1482, 1500, 15 10, 1530, 1557, 1563-
1566, 1630.)

About 1650 Edward from the Border, son of
Christie's Will, went from Brookboro, Fermanagh, to a
place near Ederney in the same county, and took pos-
session of an estate then called Terre Whinny, which
had been granted either to him or his father for mili-
tary service. He did not remain there long. Afterwards
his grandson Edward, son of James of Brookboro, set-
tled there and built a large house, with byres, walls,
dykes, and even a moat. He "married a dark-eyed lass
of great beauty and with a wealth of rich black hair.
She was called a princess at that time, being a daughter
of the great house of Maguire, which down to the close
of the reign of Elizabeth bore rule in Fermanagh. Un-
til this time the Armstrongs carried the blue eyes and

%tm^tvimQ0 of tf^t Jtf^entctntf^ 4ttntvitp 320

fair hair of the Norse race, and they were called such
names as Fair Johnie or Fair Billie, but after this we
had Black Armstrongs and White Armstrongs." Ter-
winney, which means The Land of the Cow, is in a beau-
tiful valley surrounded by ten hills, not far from Lough
Earne. When Edward of Terwinney, son of James of
Brookboro, died, the estate was leased for a few years to
a family by the name of Graydon, Edward's son. Gentle
James, not being of age. Edward was killed in the wars
of Pennsylvania (see 1744). Gentle James was buried
at Templemaghey, not far from Terwinney. He and
several of his descendants lie there.

The following statement was made by Edward Arm-
strong, the present possessor of Terwinney: ** Edward
from the Border, son of Christie's Will, came from
Brookboro to Terwinney about 1650 to take possession
of land that was left either to him or his father for
military service. After clearing the land and building
the house which is standing to-day, he went back to
Brookboro, the place of the first homestead. His son,
James of Brookboro, succeeded him in the possession
of Terwinney. James of Brookboro had the following
children of whom we know: Edward of Terwinney,
Andro, a sister who married Lieutenant Graydon, John,v^
afterwards Major-General John Armstrong of Pennsyl-
vania, William, and George. John's oldest brother, who
was heir-apparent to Terwinney, died in 1744, fighting
in Pennsylvania, leaving a young son in Ireland called
Gentle James. James of Brookboro, the father of Gen-
eral John Armstrong, died at Terwinney in 1745, and
was buried at Agahvea, where the inscription upon the

330 €|)rontcIejtf of tf)e %xmstttimz0

monument erected to his memory may still be easily
discerned. Upon this slab is the complete and correct
coat-of-arms of the family. The boy Gentle James be-
came heir to Terwinney, Mrs. Graydon, his aunt, became
his guardian, and she and her husband moved to Ter-
winney. When Gentle James became of age he came
into full possession of Terwinney, and Lieutenant and
Mrs. Graydon moved away soon afterwards. They are
also buried in Agahvea, where their graves and the
monument with its inscription may still be seen.

There is an old house in Brookboro with the Arm-
strong crest and motto, Valida manu^ over the fire-
place. It must have been a grand place in its time.
It is now used as a hotel. This house marks the spot
of the first home of the Armstrongs in Ireland, that of
Christie's Will's family, who went there from the Bor-
der in the early part of the seventeenth century."

"Gregory Armstrong of Plymouth, Mass., died in
1650. (Farmer) Gregory was one able to bear arms at
Plymouth, between sixteen and sixty, in 1643." [Early
Puritans of the Colony of Connecticut^ Astor Library.)

Among the "Certificates of Headrights" in the
county court of Lower Norfolk, Va., we find: "Sept.

^ntije^trong^ of tf^t ^ebenteentl^ Centurp 331

21, 1654, Thos. Bridge (48) for 250 acre for Thomas
Pickerell, Will GrifFen, John Mickey, Wm. Stanley
and George Armstrong." (New England Hist, and
Genealogical Reg., vol. 47.)

Armstrong, William, son of John, baptized February
17th, 1658. (From church register of parish of Tem-
plemore, Londonderry, Ireland.)

, The arms described in Stacie's MS., Lyon

•^^' Office, for Armstrong of Maingertoun perhaps
belonged to the period when somewhat similar arms
were registered by the laird of Whithaugh. Sir James
Balfour gives, argent, three pales azure for Maingertoun ;
also for name, gules, three dexter arms vambraced pro-
per, and, argent, an arm holding the trunk of an oak
proper. The Armstrongs who lived at Morton Tower
(Tower of Sark) appear to have borne similar arms to
those last given. They occur on the remarkable monu-
mental stone in Morton churchyard, to William Arm-
strong of Sark, who died in 1659. Morton Tower was
in Annandale, near the Border, and was the residence
of Kinmont Willie. (See 1596.)

Jonathan Armstrong settled before 1670 at Mis-
quamicut (Westerly), amid the riots, inroads, writs, and
judgments that disturbed the debateable lands on the
borders of the two colonies Connecticut and Rhode
Island. In partial redress of his grievances the Legisla-
ture of Connecticut granted him, in October, 1677,
one hundred acres of land near the bounds of Norwich,
Connecticut. (Conn. Col. Rec, 2, 324.)

Of the ** Early Puritan " Armstrongs of "The Colony
of Connecticut," Jonathan and Benjamin Armstrong

332 CijronicICjBr of t^t %vmm(tns0

were at Norwich soon after its settlement, 1659. (See
1668, 1678. Earfy Puritans of the Colony of Connecticut.)

, /• Avis Armstrong of Windsor, Connecticut, died
December 24th, 1660. Inventory. [Early
Puritans of the Colony of Connecticut. )

Thomas Armstrong of Sorbie, near Langholm, Scot-
land, born 1660, lived 81 years. There were two fam-
ily tombstones at Sorbie. (See 1632, 1685.) One was
headed with the name of John and the other with the
name of Thomas. (History of Liddesdale, p. 103.)

The Rev. Robert Armstrong was born in 1660 and
died April i6th, 1732, aged 72. He was father of
Helen Armstrong, who died in her infancy, of Rev.
William Armstrong, who was born 171 1 and died April
10th, 1749, and who succeeded him in the charge of his
parish, of Dr. John Armstrong the poet, and of Eliza-
beth Armstrong, who died April 2d, 1764, aged 73.
His death is also recorded under its corresponding date
in this work. (See Leonard A. Morrison's pamphlet,
Armstrongs of the Border.)

/. , Mathew Armstrong (see 1672) listed among
the settlers of Essex and old Norfolk counties,
aged 27. He settled in May, 1661. (New England
Genealogical Society Records.)

, >. The will of Sir Thomas Armstrong the elder,
father of Sir Thomas executed in 1684, is
on file in the Ulster Office, (A-D, Wills, old series,
pp. 157-178, vol. ii,) dated November 19th, 1662. In
that document a son and daughter are mentioned. They
were Capt. Thomas Armstrong and Anne Armstrong.
He bequeathed all his property to his son, and ^^400

%vm0tvimQ0 of tfyt ^ebenteentl) Centurp 333

to his daughter. His seal is on the will, and his coat-
of-arms is on record in the office of Ulster King of
Arms, Dublin Castle. They are, "a shield quartered,
ist and 4th, three vambraced arms in armour, 2d and
3d, a field with fleur-de-lis." There is no crest on
record. It was claimed by the Terwinney Armstrongs
that he was a brother of Christie's Will. (See 1630.)
In Burke's Landed Gentry his son is mentioned as a near
relative of Will. The Armstrongs of Waterford are
said to have descended from him. He served in the
Lowland wars under James I (see 1599), and was one
of the 1649 officers known as the "'49" lot who re-
ceived grants of land from King Charles II for services
in the civil wars of Charles I in Ireland. He purchased
the grants of several other officers, and transferred all of
the property to his son, Captain Thomas Armstrong,
who was also one of the 1 649 officers. These lands
were mostly near Waterford. (See Record Office, Dub-
lin. See 1630, 1640, 1649, 1666, 1684.)

, / "Armstrong, John, married Katherine Beard,
'^* Dec. loth, 1663." This record was taken
from the church register in the parish of Templemore,
Londonderry, Ireland, in the diocese of Derry. This
record is kept among others in the cathedral in Lon-
donderry under the control of Bishop Alexander. (See
History of M^indham^ Supplement y p. 122.]

"Armstrong, John, son of John, buried Dec. 20th,
1666." (From the church register in the parish of
Templemore, Londonderry, Ireland.)

^rr Sir Thomas, or Captain Thomas, Armstrong
was granted houses and lands in Dublin and

334

€t^timit\tif of t^t %tm^tnnQ^

Waterford, Ireland, March 26th, 1666. Ensign Robert
Armstrong was granted j[ioS 50s. 6d. John Arm-
strong j[^^ 3s. 6d. (History of Windhaniy N. H.)

Helen Forrester, sometime spouse to Francis Arm-
strong of Whithaugh, died May, 1667. This was the
first wife of Francis Armstrong of Whithaugh. There
is an inscription on the gravestone in the old church-
yard at Castletown, Liddesdale.

"Armstrong, Barbara, wife of John, buried Dec.
30th, 1667." (From the church register in the parish
of Templemore, Londonderry, Ireland.)

Jonathan Armstrong, made free in 1668. One of
the original settlers of Westerly, Rhode Island. (See
1659, 1678. New England Genealogical Society Records.)

1672.

At this time Gabriel Armstrong of Notting-

hamshire, England, had for arms three dex-
ter arms vambraced. (See 1377.)

The arms of Francis, son of
John Armstrong of Parknow,
near Langholm, Scotland, were
registered about 1672. The lands
of Parknow may have been
those of Park in Ewesdale (see
1535), granted by James V in
1535 to David son of Herbert
Armstrong. Crest, an arm issuing
from a cloud, the hand holding
a Hercules club proper, other-
wise described as a tree-trunk.
(See 1548.) Motto, Invicta la-
bore.

3CrmiBftron0itf of t^e ^cbcnteentfj Centurp 335

Adam Armstrong was born about 1612, and died
June nth, 1672. (See note under that year in this
work.) He had a son Adam, born about 1638, whose
birth and death are recorded in this work. The in-
scription on his tombstone in Canonbie churchyard on
the Border can still be deciphered.

Francis Armstrong in Fairlowes, born in 1672, died
October 9th, 1735, aged 63. His death is recorded in
this work under its corresponding date. He had two
sons, Adam and John. Their deaths are. all recorded on
a monumental tombstone in Canonbie churchyard on
the Border.

The following extracts are from the parish register
of Arthuret, near Carlisle, England, as quoted by
Lysons in his Magna Britannia: "Francis, son of Archi-
bald Armstrong, baptised December 17th, 1643."
"Archibald Armstrong and Sybella Bell married June
4th, 1646." "Archibald Armstrong, buried April ist,
1672."

At this time Mathew Armstrong, Boston, 1664,
mariner, (see 1661,) perhaps had come from Maryland.
His widow, in 1672, sold estate in Somerset County of
that province. [Genealogical Dictionary of New England^
by James Savage.)

In 1672, strange to say, the shield,
argent, three pales sable, illustrated
here, was registered in the Lyon
Office by Francis of Whithaugh.
Crest, an arm from the shoulder,
gules issuing from the wreath. Mot-
to, Invictus maneo.

336

Ci)rontcIcje( of tf)e %tm^txiin^0

In the Kerr MS. Armstrong occurs as paly (sec p. 8 1 )
of six argent and azure, which is also given by Stacie.

The crest of the Armstrongs of Whithaugh, accord-
ing to Fairbairn, was a naked arm embowed gu. Motto,
Invictus vianeo. The crest of the Armstrongs of Here-
ford and Worcestershire, England, was similar to that
of Whithaugh; it was an arm enbowed pp. Motto,
Invictus maneo. (See Fairbairn's Crests^ edit, i860.)
The Maingertoun shield, as recorded in Sta-
cie's MS., 1674, was, sable, three pales argent,
just the reverse of the Whithaugh shield of 1672.
But there was no Armstrong of Maingertoun at this
period.

1674.

Sir James Balfour gives, argent, three pales azure, for
Maingertoun (see p. 81); also for the name, gules,
three dexter arms vambraced proper, and argent, an
arm holding the trunk of an oak proper. (See illus-
trations opposite; also see pp. 13-19.)

HlmiiBftron0jtf of tfyt ^cbentecntfj €enturp 337

1675.

Andrew Armstrong see (1630), who came

from the Border with Christie's Will, was
said to have been buried in County Fermanagh in
1675. (Edwin E. Armstrong of Detroit, Michigan, to
James L. Armstrong, March 22d, 1898.)

y^ o "Jonathan Armstrong of Westerly, or Pawca-

' ' tuck, R. I., 'in that debateable part of Narra-

gansett territory called in the native speech Misquami-

cuck, by the English Squamicuck, claimed by Con-

338 C^voniclta of tte %vm0ttw^0

necticut jurisdiction as belonging to their plantation
of Stonington, 1670, removed to Norwich 1678, per-
haps, for then land was given to him. He probably
removed to Roxbury, where his daughter Mercy died
2d Oct., 1694, and Martha died Dec. 1709." (See
January loth, 171 8, 1659, 1668.)

In a list of tickets granted to passengers from Barba-
does, Ann Armstrong took passage in the ship Francis
for Antegoa, now called Antigua. Peter Jeffreys was
captain of the ship, which sailed April 28th, 1679.

Christian Elliot, second wife of Francis Armstrong,
died October, 1679. (From the churchyard gravestone
at Castletown. History of Liddesdale^ p. 86.)

The following record, with others of the same fam-
ily recorded in this work, is in the church register in
the cathedral, Londonderry, Ireland, and under the su-
pervision of Bishop Alexander: "Albowfise Armstrong,
son of John and Janet, buried July 24, 168 1."

,Q Sir Thomas Armstrong, sometimes called
^* Captain Armstrong, was born at Nimeguen,
Holland, where his father. Sir Thomas the elder (see
1662), was serving in one of James's Low Country ex-
peditions (see 1599). He was brought to England
when young, and soon served under Charles I. He
married Catherine Pollexfeu, a niece of Clarendon, in
1658, and was knighted in May, 1660, by Charles II.
His will was probated May 20th, 1693, and is on file
in the Ulster Office (A-D, Wills, old series, page 178,
vol. ii). In that document he names two daughters,
Katherine and Jane. His address in the London direc-
tory of 1677 was Captain Armstrong of Newington

:3CrmiB(trongi^ of ti)e ^ebenteentf) Centurp 339

Butts. There is a portrait of him in the volume en-
titled Roxburghe Collection of Ballads. He is mentioned
in the memoirs of the Earl of Castlemain, published
in 1683, as a follower of the Duke of Ormond, Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland, during the civil wars of 1641
and the years succeeding, and was commissary-general
of horse in command of the forces of King Charles I
in many engagements. He followed the Duke of Or-
mond, espousing the cause of King Charles I against
Parliament, and was in command of the combined
forces of cavalry of the king and the loyal native Irish
against Cromwell on one hand and the rebel Irish on
the other. When the royal forces were distributed in
Ireland he followed the Duke of Ormond to the Con-
tinent, and is mentioned in the above-named memoirs
as having been three times wounded in one battle,
while serving with the duke. He is afterward men-
tioned as one of the chief conspirators and special friend
and adviser of the Duke of Monmouth in the Rye
House Plot in 1683. He escaped to Holland, but was
betrayed into the hands of the English minister Chid-
ley and returned to England charged with treason.

Both the father and the son who was executed had
always been stanch adherents of the Stuart family. Sir
Thomas the younger was one of the chief favorites of
the king at court. The only circumstances tending to
criminate him appear to have been his well known
companionship of the Duke of Monmouth, natural son
of Charles II, and his presence at a meeting where, in
course of conversation, the design of a "rising" in
Dorsetshire had been mentioned. For this he was

340 Ci)ronicIe^ of tf)e %vm0ttcns0

adjudged "worthy of death" by the infamous Jeffries,
Titus Oates being one of his accusers. He strenuously
denied having taken part in the plot, but was con-
demned, executed, drawn and quartered without trial
on June 20th, 1684. One part of the body was bar-
barously exhibited to the public gaze at Temple Bar,
the first instance of this edifice being used for the ex-
posure of the remains of traitors. The head was affixed
to an iron rod on Westminster Hall, having those of
Cromwell and Bradshaw for its companions. Two
other portions of the body were impaled on Aldersgate
and Aldgate, while another part of the mangled corpse
was sent down to Strafiord, the borough which he had
previously represented in Parliament.

One who had been in Westminster Hall during this
mockery of a trial speaks especially of the heartless and
brutal jeer of the Lord Chief Justice, on Sir Thomas
pleading that he might have the benefit of the law.
"That you shall have," exclaimed he, with a blasphe-
mous taunt, "by the grace of God. See that execution
be done on Friday, next, according to law: you shall
have the full benefit of the law*' As evidence that the
king approved of this act of summary vengeance, we
learn from the pages of history that shortly after the
event, when Jeffries was at Windsor, Charles II took
from his finger a diamond ring of great value and pre-
sented it to him. This ring was ever after called
Bloodstone. Five years after the execution the attainder
was reversed, and a sum of ^^5000 was ordered by
William and Mary to be paid to Dame Katherine
Armstrong. (See LuttreWs Diary^ June, 1684. Rox-

:3llrmitftron0jtf of tf)e Jht\imtecntf^ Centurp 341

burghe Collection. Hogg's Jacobite Reliques. Leisure
Hours, 1855, p. 380. Castlemain Memoirs. See also
1640, 1649, 1662, 1666.)

"If Armstrong was not belied, he was deep in the worst
secrets of the Rye House Plot." " When the conspiracy was
discovered he fled to the continent and was outlawed. The
magestrates of Leyden were induced by a bribe to deliver him
up. Armstrong represented that a year had not yet elapsed
since he had been outlawed, and that by an act passed in the
reign of Edward the Sixth, an outlaw who yealded himself with-
in the year was entitled to plead Not Guilty, and to put him-
self on his country. To this it was answered that Armstrong
had not yealded himself." "Then followed one of the most
terrible of the many terrible scenes which, in those times dis-
graced our Courts. The daughter of the unhappy man was at
his side. * My Lord,' she cried out, 'you will not murder my
father. This is murdering a man.' 'How now?' roared the
Chief Justice. * Who is this woman ? Take her, Marshal.
Take her away.' She was forced out crying as she went, * God
Almighty's judgment light on you!' ' God Almighty's judg-
ment,' said Jeffreys, 'will light on traitors. Thank God, I am
clamor proof.' When she was gone, her father again insisted
on what he conceived to be his right. 'I ask,' he said, 'only
the benefit of the law.' 'And, by the grace of God, you shall
have it,' said the judge. ' Mr. Sheriff, see that execution be
done on Friday next. There is the benefit of the law for you.'
On the following Friday Armstrong was hanged, drawn and
quartered, and his head was placed over Westminster Hall."
"To send a man to the gallows as a traitor, without confronting
him with his accusers, without hearing his defence, solely because
a timidity which is perfectly compatible with innocence has im-
pelled him to hide himself, is surely a violation, if not of any
written law, yet of those great principles to which all laws ought
to conform." (Macaulay's History of England, vol. iii, p. 470.)

342 Cf^ttmitUa of ti^t ^rmitftrongjt

" Sir Thomas Armstrong, royalist, and concerned in the Rye
house plot, was son of an English officer, serving in one of James*
Low Country expeditions, and was born at Nimeguen, where
his father was quartered. He was brought to England young,
and served under Charles I; he joined Ormond in Ireland in
1649, and declared for Charles II, for which and similar royal-
ist service he was imprisoned in Lambeth House by Cromwell.
There he endured many privations, but he contrived after a
year's imprisonment to get released. About 1655 he was sent
out of England, by the Earl of Oxford and other cavaliers, to
Charles with a considerable sum of money for the use of the
exiled prince. He delivered the gift into the prince's own
hands, and returning to England was, on the sixth day, im-
prisoned by Cromwell in the Gate house. In 1658, after
another interval of liberty and of fidelity to the royal cause,
Armstrong suffered a third imprisonment in the Tower; but
on the death of the Protector, on 3 Sept. of that year, was re-
leased, and married Katherine, a niece of Clarendon's. He was
one of the signatories to the Royalist Declaration to Monk,
April, 1660; and on the restoration, in the following month,
he was knighted by the king for his services, made lieutenant
of the first troop of guards, and subsequently gentleman, or
captain, of the horse. Shortly afterwards Armstrong became
intimate with the Duke of Monmouth; and according to the
testimonies of unfriendly authorities, he * led a very vitious life.'
Sprat says that he ' became a debauched atheistical Bravo ' ; he
fell at any rate, into disfavour at Court, fought a duel with one
named Scroop, a considerable gentleman in the Play-house,
whom he killed, and left England in 1679 with the Duke of
Monmouth for Flanders, to join some English regimentals
there. In May, 1684, a spy at Leyden gave desired informa-
tion,— the reward for the seizure of Armstrong being 'equal to
the greatest ' and out of it Chudleigh offered 5000 guilders, —
the States issued the necessary order of acquiescence, and Arm-
strong, too much surprised to plead his Dutch birth, was car-

^rmiB^trongje? of ti)e ^ebenteentf) Cmturp 343

ricd to Rotterdam, loaded with irons, and placed on board the
yacht Catherine. At Newgate he was stripped of anything he
had of value ; he was searched ; a bill of exchange was found in
his pocket, between one Hayes, a merchant at London, and
another merchant at Leyden, and Hayes was at once committed
to Newgate. Armstrong was not allowed to see his family and
friends except in the presence of his gaolers; and all money
having been taken away from him, he was unable to obtain the
assistance of counsel. In three days, 14 June, he was taken to
Kings' Bench, Guildhall, attended by his daughter, Jane
Mathews, another being repulsed. Titus Oates was one of his
accusers; Jeffries was his judge. His claim was for a proper
trial, under the Statute 5 and 6 Edward VI, c. 11. Jeffries de-
nied his right. On the i8th his wife and daughters applied in
vain for a writ of error to Lord Keeper North, Jeff"ries himself,
and other officials. Armstrong was executed on Friday, 20
June, 1684, At the scaffold he became so resigned as to
astonish those who knew his hot temper. He was met by
Tenison, who took charge of a written paper he gave protest-
ing his innocence. His body was quartered; his head was fixed
at Westminster Hall, between the heads of Bradshaw and
Cromwell. On 1 July Armstrong's protest was given to the
world; a general feeling prevailed, fortified by the legal opin-
ion of Sir John Hawles, solicitor-general, that a great injustice
had been done; and in 1689, after examination of Dame
Katherine Armstrong, the widow, and her daughters, a sum of
^{"5000 was ordered to be paid to them, and the attainder was
reversed. Five years elapsed before this was carried out by
William and Mary in 1694." {Diet, of Nat. Biography.)

John Armstrong (see 1632), child of John Armstrong
of Sorbie and Margaret Murray his spouse, born 1684,
died November, 1698, aged 14 years. (History of Lid-
desdaky p. 103.)

344 €f^vimitlt0 of t^e %tm^tt(ins0

, « John Armstrong of Sorbie died March 17th,
"^* 1685, aged 53 (see 1632). The parish of
Ewes consisted of the district formerly known as Ewes-
dale, and is drained by the Ewes Water and its tribu-
taries. There were two churches in this parish, the
Nether Kirk and the Over Kirk, one of which was
dedicated to St. Cuthbert and the other to St. Mark.
The Nether Kirk stood on the west side of the river
at a place called Kirktown. In the cemetery of this
church are many monuments, though none earlier than
the end of the seventeenth century, one of the most
interesting being that of the Armstrongs of Sorbie.
(See p. 32.) The arms and inscription were renewed
about 1 840, but no change was made except in the
character of the lettering. The form of the shield is
similar to that on the Little monument (see p. 32); on
it is sculptured a hand springing from the sinister side,
holding an oak-tree which leans from the dexter chief
to the sinister base. The shield is also charged with a
crescent in the sinister chief and a mullet in the dexter
base. The inscriptions, which are also recorded in their
chronological order in this work, are as follows: "Here
lie John Armstrong of Sorbie, who died Mch. 17th,
1685, aged 53. Margaret Murray, his spouse, who
died May 17th, 171 6, aged 76, and John Armstrong,
their son, who died November, 1698, aged 14 years.
Whither thou be old or young, think upon the time
to come." On another stone the following occurs: "In
memory of Thomas Armstrong of Sorbie, who died
May 14th, 1 76 1, aged 81 years. Here lyeth Jean
Elliot, spouse to Thomas Armstrong of Sorbie, who

3llrmiBftron0itf of tt^t ^ebetiteentl^ Centurp 355

died July 24th, 1734, aged 51. Also William Arm-
strong, their son, who died July 31, 1782, aged 72.
And George Armstrong, his son, who died Janry. 21st,
1774, aged 23 years. Also Helin Elliot, spouse to the
said William Armstrong; she died June nth, 1790,
aged 72. Also Tho*., son to the above Tho*. Arm-
strong, who died at Sorbie, 31st July, 1758, aged 43,
and Christian Elliot, his spouse, who died at Rickerton
Mill, 9 June, 1790, aged 61 years." [History of Lid-
desdaky p. 102.)

Adam Armstrong was born in 1685 and died in
1749, aged 64. (See 1749.) He was son of Adam
Armstrong, born 1638, died May loth, 1696. (See
Leonard A. Morrison's pamphlet, Armstrongs of the
Border. )

In the address sent from Enniskillen by Mr. A.
Hamilton to King William and Queen Mary, thanking
them for sending General Kirke to their relief during
the war at that time, about 1687 (not dated), the fol-
lowing names appear, among others: Martin Armstrong
(Capt. Martin of Longfield), Thomas Armstrong (Capt.
Thomas of Longfield), Daniel Armstrong, John Arm-
strong (John Armstrong of Longfield). "The Ennis-
killeners were in the summer of 1690 put on the same
footing as regular troops. The name has descended
and to-day [time book was written] form two regi-
ments, 6th Dragoons and 27th Foot." (See The Ac-
tions of Enniskillen Men^ by Andrew Hamilton, rector
of Kilsevey, an eye-witness, London, 1 690, reprint Bel-
fast, 1813.)

Among the names of grantees of estates forfeited in

348 €^nnit\tff of tlje %vmiitximQ0

Ireland under King William in 1688, is that of Charles
Armstrong. (Note from E. E. Armstrong of Detroit,
Michigan.)

Among the names of purchasers of estates forfeited
under King William is that of Capt. Armstrong, proba-
bly Captain Thomas Armstrong, brother to Martin
Armstrong of Longfield. (Note from Edwin E. Arm-
strong of Detroit, Michigan.)

William Armstrong was born in 1688, lived 49 years,
and died on June 30th, 1737. (See 1737.) He mar-
ried Jane Elliott; she died August 20th, 1722, aged
39 years. Both are buried in Canonbie upon the
Border.

Thomas Armstrong was born in 1689, and died
in Nedsongeried upon the Border at the age of 80.
(See 1769.) He had two sons: James, who was born
in 1733 and lived 37 years, and William, who was born
in 1729 and lived 45 years, both mentioned later on.

Archibald Armstrong was born in 1692, and died
September 15th, 1757, aged 65 years. (See 1757.)
(Leonard A. Morrison's pamphlet, Armstrongs of the
Border. )

Some remains of the canonry of Canonbie were until
recently visible at Halgreen, and there is still a right of
way from that place to the church. A portion of the
ancient church, the sedilia, may be seen in the church-
yard, and a tablet to the memory of a former minister.
Rev. James Donaldson, has lately been inserted. In
1694 James Armstrong was minister of this church.
William Armstrong, mentioned later, was minister in
1 71 9. [History of Liddesdale^ pp. 119 and 120.)

3llmiitftron0jtf of tl^e M'otnttent^ €enturp 347

In 1693 Robert Armstrong was minister of the
"Kirk of Castletown." {History of Liddesdale^ p. 93.)

Adam Armstrong was born about 1638 and died
May loth, 1696. (See 1638.) He was son of Adam
Armstrong, born in 161 2. (See 161 2.) His death is
recorded on the family tombstone in Canonbie church-
yard on the Border.

In Canonbie churchyard on the Border can be seen
at the present time (1893) ^^^ following inscription:
" Here lies Francis Armstrong who died in the water
on the Lord's day, Nov. ist, 1696, as he went from
kirk after sermon. Aged 20. George his brother was
also drowned at the same time."

John Armstrong (see 1684), son of John Armstrong
of Sorbie upon the Border and Margaret Armstrong his
spouse, died November, 1698, aged 14. [History of Lid-
desdaky p. 103.)

HE following instance of vengeance
occurs in the confession of one
John Weir, a prisoner in the tol-
booth of Edinburgh, under sen-
tence of death, in 1700: "In May,
1 700, John Weire went to Grandee
Knows [near Haltwhistle, in Northumberland], to the
mother of the 4 brethren the Armstrongs, which Arm-
strongs, and the aforesaid Burley, did cut the tongue
and ear out of William Turner, for informing that they
were bad persons, which Turner wrote with his blood,
that they had used him so." Weir also mentions one
Thomas Armstrong, called Luck i* the Bagg, who lived
in Cumberland. [Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border^ edit.
London, 1868, p. 259.)

Lieutenant John Armstrong, of Lord Donegal's regi-
ment, was nephew of an Archibald Armstrong. He
had a brother Andrew and a sister Margaret. They
were said to have descended from Andrew, who came
to Ireland from the Border with Christie's Will. (See
1630, 1675.) ^'^ ^^^^ ^^ recorded in Ulster Office.
(See Wills, new series, vol. v, pp. 35 to 51.)

James Armstrong of Kershopefoot, tanner, was born
in 1705, mentioned later. He died January 4th, 1774,

%xm0ttimg0 of tte <ei^ttentf^ Cmturp 34B

aged 69 years. His tombstone is in the Ettleton ceme-
tery, Liddesdale, and is still in good condition.

William Armstrong in Glingarbeckrows upon the
Border, was born in 1705 and died March i6th, 1760,
aged ^^ years. He was a brother of Robert Armstrong
in Hightree, born 171 6, and of Thomas Armstrong,
Hightree, born 171 6, whose births and deaths are all
recorded under their corresponding years in this work.
Thomas and Robert were probably twins. (See Leon-
ard A. Morrison's pamphlet, Armstrongs of the Border.)

One of the last of the Border Armstrongs
I 70 C.
' ^' lived within the beginning of the eighteenth

century. After having made himself dreaded over the
whole country he came to the following end. One

, a man of large property, having lost twelve

cows in one night, raised the county of Teviotdale and
traced the robbers into Liddesdale, as far as the house
of this Armstrong, commonly called Willie of West-
burnflat, from the place of his residence on the banks
of the Hermitage near its junction with the Liddel, a
short distance from Whithaugh and Maingertoun, near
New Castleton. Fortunately for the pursuers, he was
then asleep, so that he was secured, along with nine of
his friends, without much resistance. He was brought
to trial at Selkirk, and although no precise evidence
was adduced to convict him of the special fact, the cat-
tle never having been recovered, yet the jury brought
him in guilty on his general character, or, as it was
called, "on habit and repute." When sentence was
pronounced, Willie arose, and, seizing the oaken chair
in which he was placed, broke it into pieces by main

350 Ct)ronicIejtf of tf^t %vmftttimgft

strength, and offered to his companions, who were in-
volved in the same doom, that, if they would stand
behind him, he would fight his way out of Selkirk
with these weapons. But they held his hands, and be-
sought him to let them "die like Christians." The
people of Liddesdale, who, perhaps not erroneously, still
consider the sentence as iniquitous, were wont to say
that the prosecutor never throve afterwards, but came
to beggary and ruin with his whole family. (See Border
Exploits. )

Adam Armstrong was born about 1706, and died
February 13th, 1736. (See 1736.) He was son of
Francis Armstrong of Fairlowes, born 1672, died Oc-
tober 9th, 1735, whose death and birth are also re-
corded under their corresponding years. His tomb-
stone is in Canonbie churchyard on the Border. (See
Leonard A. Morrison's pamphlet, Armstrongs of the
Border.

Steven Armstrong and Hannah Willcoson were mar-
ried December i6th, 1708, in Maiden, Massachusetts.
(New England Genealogical Society Records.)

William Armstrong, first son of Thomas Armstrong
(see 1660) of Sorbie near Langholm, Scotland, and
Jean Elliot his spouse, born 1710, lived 72 years. (His-
tory of Liddesdale, p. 103.)

Rev. William Armstrong, born in 171 1, died April
loth, 1749, and was buried in Castleton churchyard.
His death is again recorded in this work under its cor-
responding year. He succeeded his father, the Rev.
Robert Armstrong, born 1660, died April i6th, 1732,
in the charge of his parish. He was brother (see 1779)

^rm^trong^ of tt^t 4iigfyttcntf^ Centurp 331

to Dr. John Armstrong. (Leonard A. Morrison's pam-
phlet, Armstrongs of the Border.)

Armstrong, Joseph, son of Joseph and Susanna, bap-
tized July 20th, 171 1. This record was taken from
the church register in the parish of Templemore, Lon-
donderry, Ireland, in the diocese of Derry.

Thomas Armstrong, second son of Thomas

' •^* Armstrong of Sorbie (see 1660,) born 171 5,
lived 43 years. (History of hiddesdaky p. 103.)

June 1 6th, 171 5, Thomas Armstrong was baptized
by Rev. William Cooper, Boston, Massachusetts. (New
England Hist, and Gen. Soc. Register ^ vol. 30.)

The following record is from the tombstone in the
old churchyard at Castleton, Liddesdale: "Here lyes
Margaret Armstrong, daughter of Francis Armstrong,
younger of Whithaugh, who died Oct. 22d, 171 5; her
age 8 months."

Margaret Murray, wife of John Armstrong of Sorbie,
died May 17th, 171 6, aged 76. (History of Liddesdale.)

Robert Armstrong in Hightree was born in 171 6
and died February 8th, 1760, aged 44 years. His death
is recorded again under its corresponding year in this
work. He had two brothers, William in Glingarbeck-
rows, born 1705, died March i6th, 1760, aged ^^y and
Thomas Armstrong in Hightree, born 171 6, died April
9th, 1765, aged 49 years. The records of their deaths
can be seen to-day on a monument in Canonbie church-
yard on the Border. Their births and deaths are also
recorded under corresponding years in this work. (See
Leonard A. Morrison's pamphlet, Armstrongs of the
Border.)

352 CJ^ronicIfjtf of tt^t Urmftwrnt^fi

Thomas Armstrong, Hightrce, was born in 171 6 and
died April 9th, 1765, aged 49. He was brother of
Robert Armstrong, who was born in 171 6 and died
February 8th, 1760, aged 44. He had another brother,
William Armstrong in Glingarbeckrows, who was born
in 1705 and died March i6th, 1760, aged ^^ years.
Their births and deaths are recorded on the tombstone
in Canonbie churchyard on the Border, and can be seen
to this day (1893). (See Leonard A. Morrison's j^rm-
strongs of the Border.)

We learn from records in Ulster Office (Wills, vol.
V, new series, pp. 35 to 51) that Andrew Armstrong,
farmer, married Lucy of Ballycumber, Kings Co. Will
dated February 19th, 171 6. Said to be descendant of
Andrew. (See 1630, 1675.) Andrew had two sons.
The first was Warneford Armstrong, who married Fran-
ces Bagot of Clarogt, afterwards of Ballycumber, will
dated October 2d, 1766; the name of the second
was Thomas. The first son, Warneford Armstrong,
had the following children: Andrew of Clara (perhaps
Clare), George, Margaret, John, William, Caroles,
Elizabeth, Frances. Andrew of Clara had a son named
Andrew.

One of our most interesting records from an
I 7 I 7» .

' ' * American scource is in the form of a state-
ment of John William Armstrong, who landed at
Charleston in 171 7. "Copied from a book which was
the property of my Uncle John William Armstrong;
in the Annual 1771. [Signed] David Armstrong."

"We landed at Charleston on the nine and tenth of
the tenth Mo. in the Annual 171 7. My Brother Henry,

3Crmitftrotigitf of t^e <Ci0f|tecntlj Centurp 353

My Brother Robert, and my near kin Rufus George
Armstrong, also ther kame our strong fren Thomas
Dinkins, James Dinkins, beside John Dinkins. We
were alone. We possesses in entire sufficient one was
value. My Brother David was useful with building
boat. My fren Thomas Dinkins the same. On the
nine Mo. 171 8. My brother Robert and my friend
James Dinkins bad leave for Ireland. On the six Mo,
171 9. May God bles the morning ther kame and my
love companion and chil Margaret an also kame back
James Dinkins and Robert with also famles. . . . 1723
annual we agan walk to Mekeilenbur County, Caro-
lina. Sens we left Londonderry just foor Annual. . . ."
(Original in the possession of James Dinkins, Mem-
phis, Tennessee.)

Statement of John R. Dinkins. " Copies of a Testa-
ment belonging to my Father, James Dinkins, who was
the son of James Dinkins of Macklenburg County,
N. C. who emmigrated from the Londonderry together
with his two brothers John and Thomas in the years
1717 and 171 9 . . . in company with John William
Armstrong, Robert Armstrong, Henry Armstrong, and
a cousin Rufus George Armstrong. [Signed] John R.
Dinkins."

"James Dinkins was married to Margaret Armstrong
at Good-Hope neighborhood church, June 17, 1747.
Margaret Armstrong Dinkins was the daughter of John
William Armstrong [great-grandson of John of Gil-
nockie], and Ann his wife was a Kendrick. John
Rufus Dinkins, son of James Dinkins and Margaret
Armstrong, was born the 21 first of May 1748. David
23

354 €i)romcIejBr of tf)e %tm0ttcn20

Kcndricks Dinkins, son also was born June 3, 1749.
Eliza Ann Dinkins daughter of same was born April 3,
1 75 1. Robert Armstrong Dinkins son of same, was
born January fourteenth 1753. Sarah Margaret Din-
kins daughter of same, was born August 3, 1754. James
Dinkins, son of same, was born Dec. 26th, 1756.

"The following is partly true, and partly from tra-
dition. In the middle centuries, there lived in the
south of Scotland, a great Chief, known as 'Johnnie
the Strong* who had a large following of young men
who took up arms against the Crown. They were a
hardy rugged race, accustomed to all kinds of exposure
and dangers. They set at defiance all laws, and for
many years lived in the low-lands a terror to the Gov-
ernment. Johnnie the Strong, sent impudent messages
to the King, and challenged him to mortal combat.
He was loved by all his people, who regarded him
greater than the King. Tradition states, he at one time
met hand to hand, a score of Troopers who attempted
to capture him, but he defended himself against them
all, killing two, and wounding several others, after
which, he was called Johnnie the Strong.

"John William Armstrong, it is believed, was the
Great-Grand Son of Johnnie the Strong. This is sup-
ported by the fact, his Grand Father was betrayed, sur-
prised and killed, as tradition has it, that Johnnie the
Strong was enticed from his Camp, and killed by the
King while he was being held by the Soldiers of the
King.

"James, Thomas, and John Dinkins, it is supposed
were Welchmen, who joined the Armstrongs in Ire-

tOrmjtftrongi^ of t^e 4tigfytttntt^ Ctntnxp 355

land, having been driven from the country, so tradition
states because of disloyalty to the Crown. Tradition
further states, they were called * Devil in the bush',
which implies they were also outlaws, it is claimed, on
account of the King imposing restrictions on their
hunting privileges. Anyway, the brothers came to
America with the Armstrongs, whose children inter-
married." (Original in the possession of James Din-
kins, Memphis, Tennessee.)

Among the "Records of Falmouth" (now Portland),
Maine, we find the following: "James Armstrong (see
1724, 1725) and Mary. Children: Thomas, born Dec.
25, 1 71 7, in Ireland; John, born March 9, 1720, in
Falmouth; James, born July 25, 1721, in Falmouth."
(New England Hist, and Gen. Register.^

Q Armstrong, Benjamin (see 1659), Norwich,

' * Connecticut, by his wife Rachel had Benja-
min, born November 20th, 1674; John, December
5th, 1678; Joseph, December loth, 1684; and Stephen,
March 31st, 1686. He made his will November 5th,
1 717, and died January loth following. In that docu-
ment Stephen is not mentioned, and was probably dead.
Benjamin, Jr., settled in Windham, Connecticut. [Genea-
logical Dictionary of New England ^ by James Savage.)

On a certain September morning, in the year 171 8,
a cavalcade, in which were men, women, and children,
departed from Aghadowey, County Londonderry, Ire-
land, by the Derry road. Accompanying the proces-
sion, and acting as guide, philosopher, and friend, was a
clergyman in the prime of life, dressed in the simple
garb of the Presbyterian ministers of that period. The

338 Cf^romcleier of tf)e %vmfttxiinQ0

clergyman was accompanied by his son, a boy of eight
summers, whose name is now accorded an honored
place in the national biography of the great Republic
of the West. The clergyman was the Rev. James Mc-
Gregor, second minister of the Presbyterian congrega-
tion of Aghadowey, to which all the families belonged.
The reasons which induced them to leave their Irish
homes and undertake a voyage across the Atlantic,
which in those days was such a trial, and face the peril-
ous prospects of the wild and beautiful land of the Sag-
amore Indian, were partly religious and partly agrarian.
Being Presbyterians, they were subjected to the unjust
provisions of the Test Act. At the time of the Revo-
lution, when Ireland lay waste and society was shattered,
land had been let on leases at very low rents to Presby-
terian tenants. These leases were now terminating, and
the new rents were being doubled and tripled. Hence
farmers became discouraged, and a number of them be-
longing to Aghadowey formed the design of emigrating
to America. [Among the Scotch-Irish^ by Leonard A.
Morrison.)

On October 14th, 171 8, five small ships came to
anchor near the little wharf at the foot of State Street,
Boston, then a town of perhaps twelve thousand people.
On board these ships were about one hundred and
twenty families of Scotch-Irish. Their" fathers and
neighbors had felt the sword of Graham of Claverhouse
in Argyleshire. Others of the company were descen-
dants of those who participated in the original coloniza-
tion of Ulster, which dates from 16 10, and of those
who, three years later, formed the first Presbytery in

lCrmitftron0i6r of tfje ^ig^tecntl) Centurp 357

Ireland, the Presbytery of Antrim. Others still were
the progeny of those warriors whom Cromwell trans-
planted at the middle of the century to take the places
of families ruined by his pitiless sword. Several were
descendants of those forced to leave the Borders soon
after the union of the crowns. A few families were real
Celtic Irish. [Scotch-Irish in New England^ by Rev.
A. L. Perry.)

Some of the individuals and families of this great
company found homes in Boston in connection with
countrymen already settled there. Others journeyed to
Andover. A considerable number went up temporarily
to towns along the Merrimac, as Dracut and Haverhill.
All the rest of the migration became located in the
course of six months in three main centers — Worcester,
the Kennebec country, and Londonderry. This pe-
culiar people diffused themselves from these places into
every corner of New England.

On board one of the ships was the band from Agha-
dowey. Having anchored in sight of the not unsym-
pathetic shores of New England, certain of them still
wished to keep together in church relations, and those
who had been under the pastoral charge of the Rev.
James McGregor, who came with them, desired to
form a distinct settlement and become again the charge
of their beloved pastor. With this end in view about
twenty families and other individuals, amounting in all
to about 300 persons, sailed in this ship from Boston
in the late autumn to explore Casco Bay for a home.
They wintered hungry and cold in Portland har-
bor, where a few landed and settled. We know cer-

358

€I)ronicIejr of tf)e $Crm^trongjtf

tainly that several brothers named Armstrong landed
on Richmond Isle near Falmouth, the old name for
Portland and Cape Elizabeth, and founded families.
James Armstrong and Mary his wife brought with
them an infant son Thomas. John Armstrong and his
wife brought with them an infant son James. Both
children were born in Ireland in 171 7. Robert Arm-
strong was also one of the party, but he went to Ports-
mouth, New Hampshire, and then to Londonderry.
Robert Means, William Jameson, Joshua Gray, William
Gyles, and a McDonald remained and founded families
in Portland.

jhenamej

The shield of the Armstrongs who landed at Port-
land was, argent, three arms in armor vambraced. Their
crest, illustrated in an old Scotch Bible of 1750, was an
arm and hand embowed in armor, the hand holding an

'Atm^ttms^ of tfyt <2^i0f)teentl) Centurp 359

oak eradicated. For motto they used the last words of
the Legend of the Three Swords; they were, "was
known by the name of Armstrong." The Bible is now
in the possession of the family of Mr. Frederick Perley
Armstrong, Lockport, New York.

In the early spring those on board the vessel explored
to the eastward, and a few of them were left at points
along Casco Bay and at the mouth of the Kennebec, at
or near Wiscasset, some even reaching Brunswick. But
Maine seemed to offer no genial home to the greater
part of the company. They then sailed back to the
mouth of the Merrimac and anchored at Haverhill,
where, meeting some of their first companions, they
heard of a fine tract of land about fifteen miles to the
northward, upon which they finally settled on April
iith, old style, 171 9, naming the place Londonderry,
in patriotic recollection of the county they had left.
(History of Portland. Scotch in New England. See fam-
ily records of Simon Edward Armstrong and Miss Alice
Armstrong of Portland, Maine. See 171 9, 1722,

1724, 1734. i745» 1753' ^7S^y 1805.)

The core of the company that settled Londonderry,
New Hampshire, in April, 171 9, consisted of eighteen
men with their families, — namely, Robert Armstrong,
ancestor of George W. Armstrong of Boston, Massa-
chusetts, the Rev. James McGregor, James McKeen,
John Barnet, Archibald Clendennin, John Mitchell,
James Starrett, James Anderson, Randall Alexander,
James Gregg, James Clark, James Nesmith, Allen An-
derson, Robert Weir, John Morrison, Samuel Allison,
Thomas Steele, John Stuart. Later came the Ran-

360 Cf^vwitltft of tf)e Strmiertrong^

kins, Caldwells, Cochrans, Clydes, Dinsmoors, and
other Morrisons. They all came from the valley of
the Bann, which divides County Antrim from County
Londonderry, from the vicinities of Aghadowey, Bally-
mcna, Ballymoney, Ballywatick, Coleraine, and Kilrea.
(Scotch-Irish in New England. See family records of
George W. Armstrong of Boston, Massachusetts.)

During the quarter-century preceding the Revolution
ten distinct settlements were made from Londonderry,
New Hampshire, all of which became towns of influ-
ence and importance in that state. Two strong town-
ships in Vermont and two in Nova Scotia were settled
within the same time and from the same source.
Numerous families went off in all directions, up the
Connecticut River and over the ridge of the Green
Mountains. [Scotch-Irish in New England.)

" In the autumn of 171 8 a vessel arrived in the harbor here
[Portland] with twenty families. Many of them were descend-
ants of a colony which emigrated from Argyleshire, Scotland,
and settled in the north of Ireland about the middle of the
seventeenth century. They were rigid Presbyterians and fled
from Scotland to escape the persecutions of Charles I. On ar-
riving in the harbor, they were very destitute and the town
helped them during the winter. In the spring most of them
sailed for Newburyport, reached Haverhill April id, and soon
established themselves at a place to which they gave the name
Londonderry. Several families, however, remained here, among
which was that of James Armstrong, with his sons John, Simon,
and Thomas. Robert Means, his son-in-law, was also with
him." (Willis Collection, Portland library, Maine.)

"James Armstrong came to Portland from Ireland in 171 8
with his family and brothers and was one of the emigrants who

aCmiitftrotig^ of tfje Ci^tetntf^ €tntntp 361

spent the winter on board ship during that winter. He had a
son Thomas, born in Ireland Dec. 25th, 17 17. His sons John
and James were born in Falmouth, the old name for Portland
and Cape Elizabeth, the former March 9th, 1720, the latter
April 25th, 1 72 1. He remained here with his brothers while
his companions went upon their voyage. John, Simeon, and
Thomas Armstrong, together with James, received grants of
land here previous to 172 14 His daughter married Robert
Means." (Willis Collection, Portland library, Maine.)

" Samuel Turrel Armstrong's grandfather, John Armstrong,
was one of the original members of the First Church, Port-
land, Me., which was gathered March 8th, 1726-7. The
Rev. Thomas Smith, the first pastor, says in his journal that
John Armstrong, with John Barbour, Robert Means, and
others, who were original members, were a portion of the
Irish emigrants who came over in 1718, and passed the winter
in Portland in very distressed circumstances, so as to be as-
sisted by the government. The colony subsequently estab-
lished itself in Londonderry, N. H." {New England Hist,
and Gen. Register^ vol. 44.)

"November 6th, 1734, John Armstrong and five others,
including the pastor, Benjamin Allen, were dismissed from the
First Parish Church, then the only church in Portland. They
then formed a distinct church on the Purpooduck side of the
river, i. e., Cape Elizabeth. The church stood upon the hill
opposite Portland. There is to-day a church on that same
hill, but the old one was torn down in 1837. They could not
easily lay aside the convictions of Presbyterianism in which
they were educated." (Willis Collection, Portland library,
Maine.)

The will of Colonel Andrew Armstrong of
' * Mauristown, County Kildare, is dated Jan-
uary 19th, 1 72 1. He married Lady Westport, living

302 <Cf)ronicIe^ of tf)e %tmifttim^ft

in Linlithgow, Scotland. He had five brothers and
two sisters: Charles, Hugh, John, William, Edward,
Margaret, and Elizabeth. Charles had a son Charles,
John had a son Charles, William had a son Edward,
Edward the first had a son Martin. Colonel Andrew
Armstrong was nephew of Archibald of Endrew, Kings
County, Ireland. (See 1727.) The family is said to
have descended from Andrew who came to Ireland
with Christie's Will. (See Ulster Office, Wills, vol. v,
new series, pp. 35-51.)

From the Public Record Office of Ireland we learn
that, on April 26th, 1721, Alexander Armstrong of
Carrickmakeegan, in the diocese of Kilmore, County
Leitrim, duly signed, sealed, published, and declared
his last will and testament. He left considerable sums
to his wife Frances and his daughters Sara and Jean,
and also bequeathed to his son Martin the lands of
Carrickmakeegan, Mulloghboy, Ardmishon, Drum-
leagh, and Drumcour. Lastly he appointed his wife
Frances, his brother Simon, and Thomas Gent, Esq.,
of Agahvea, near Brookboro, County Fermanagh, ex-
ecutors. He also commanded them to bury him
"near his dear relations," who were at rest in Agahvea.
According to the records of Carrickmakeegan, Alexan-
der was a son of Christie's Will. His remains lie un-
der the second stone at Agahvea, where part of his
name could be read until recently. The will was wit-
nessed and signed by his brothers Robert, John (of
Longfield), and Edward (of Brookboro, called Edward
from the Border, and ancestor of the Armstrongs of
Terwinney).

THOMAS ARMSTRONG
OP DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A DESCENDANT OF JOHN OP LONGPIELD.

3Crmjertron0jtf of tf^t d^igfytttnt^ Centurp 363

Several Border families left the vicinity of Brookboro,
County Fermanagh, Ireland, and settled in Pennsylvania
about the year 1721. Among these were several Arm-
strongs. They preceded Major-General John Arm-
strong, and in fact were his cousins. (Edward Armstrong
of Terwinney.) We find these Armstrongs in the
Juniata district in 1740. [Sec His/ory of Susquehanna
and 'Juniata V alley ^ vol. i, pages prior to 72, in the
Pennsylvania State Library. Also letters from John A.
Herman of Harrisburg, Pa., to James L. Armstrong of
Brooklyn, N. Y., dated March 26th, 1898, and March
30th, 1898.)

Upon an old gravestone in the old churchyard at
Castleton was found the following inscription: "Here
lyes Francis Armstrong, elder of Whithaugh, who died
October 27th 1721: his age 91."

In the ** Muster Roll of Lt. Tames Armstrong

' ^' & Company," from August, 1723, to Novem-
ber, 1724, is mentioned, as killed, William Beard. (See
1718, 1725. Letters of Col. Thomas Westbrook. New
England Hist, and Gen. Register^ vol. 48.)

Among the names in the "Muster Roll of Col.
Westbrook's Company" from November 22d, 1724, to
May 22d, 1725, is that of Simon Armstrong. Col-
onel Westbrook was a citizen of Falmouth, now Port-
land, Maine. Simon also came from Falmouth. (New
England Hist, and Gen. Regis ter^ vol. 45.)

Simon Armstrong (see 1745) of Colonel Westbrook's
company was "scarred on his head, flesh wound,"
fighting Indians at "Spurwink where the Enemy were
& Burnt one Perryes house." Correspondence of Cap-

364 C[)roniclejB( of t^t %tmsfttongff

tain Hinkcs to Colonel Westbrook, dated from Fort
Mary, July 19th, 1724. There were two Armstrongs
in Colonel Westbrook's company, Lieutenant James
(1725) and Simon. (New England Hist, and Gen. Reg-
ister, vol. 45.)

Lieutenant Armstrong (of Ireland, and later Fal-
mouth, Maine), of Colonel Thomas Westbrook's regi-
ment, died May 3d, 1725. His name, with that of
William Beard, are together. The Beards of Lon-
donderry County, Ireland, and the Armstrongs of Ter-
winney, near Ederney, were nearly related. (See 1650,
1 71 8, 1724. New England Hist, and Gen. Register,
vol. 45.)

Colonel Armstrong (see 1730, 1740) became Lieu-
tenant-Governor of Nova Scotia in 1725. (New Eng-
land Hist, and Gen. Register, vols. 45, 46, 47, 48.)

The will of John Armstrong of Carrighill, County

Dublin, gent., is dated September 9th, 1726. He

married an Elizabeth. They had two sons, Francis

and Charles, said to be descendants of Christie's Will.

(See Ulster Office, Wills, vol. v, new series, pp. 35-51.)

Francis Armstrong: from the North of Ire-
I 7 2 7»
' '* land emigrated to America and settled upon

Long Island in 1727, and shortly after removed to

Warwick, Orange County, New York. He had sons

William, Francis, Robert, John, Archibald, David, and

three daughters, names now lost. (See records of

Hatly K. Armstrong, Penn Yan, New York.)

Archibald Armstrong of Endrew (see 1721), Kings

County, had three sons, William, Andrew, and Thomas.

William married Rebecca, and had children Archibald,

^Crmirtrongjtf of tf^t <eigfyttmtt^ Centttrp 365

William, Andrew, Edward, Thomas, and Rebecca.
Archibald the second also married a Rebecca, and had
children Michael, Bigol (see 1762), John, Jane, Lydia,
and Catherine. They are said to have been descen-
dants of Andrew, nephew of Christie's Will. (Sec
Ulster Office, Wills, vol. v, new series, pp. 35—51.)

William Armstrong was born in 1729 and lived
thirty-seven years. He was the elder son of Thomas
Armstrong, who died in Nedsongeried March loth,
1769, at the age of 80. Gravestone in cemetery at
Ettleton, Liddesdale. (Leonard A. Morrison.)

Martin Armstrong, a British soldier, went to

' "^ ' Rhode Island from England or Ireland about
1730, and founded in the town of Glocester the Rhode
Island branch of the Armstrong family. He went
back on a visit to England, where he died. Nearly
all of Martin Armstrong's descendants for four gen-
erations lived in and around the village of Chepachct,
town of Glocester. Those of the fifth generation left
Chepachet when children, and most of them are now
living in Providence, Rhode Island. (See records of
Henry C. Armstrong, Providence, Rhode Island.)

Charles Armstrong of Mount Armstrong, County
Kildare, married Mary. His will is dated August 6th,
1730. He had three brothers, Thomas of Bedford,
Edward of Galway, and John. Thomas had a son
Charles, Edward a son Martin, and John a son
Charles. Lieutenant-Colonel Laurence Armstrong (see
1725, 1740) was a son of Charles of Mount Arm-
strong, mentioned above. (Ulster Office, Wills, vol. v,
new series, pp. 35—51-)

366 C[)ronicIejtf of tf^t %tmitttons0

Joseph Armstrong, Sr., from the North of

'•^ * Ireland, relative of James Armstrong of
Brookboro (see 1745), emigrated to Pennsylvania about
1 73 1 and settled in the Cumberland Valley. (See
1761.)

William, third son of Paul and Katherine Went-
worth of Norwich, Connecticut, and Rowley, Dover,
was married to Martha Armstrong June i6th, 1731, by
Henry Wills, pastor of the Second Church, Norwich.
They had issue: Phoebe, Martha, Mary, William, Jr.,
Joseph, Benjamin, Hannah, and Sarah. (New England
Hist, and Gen. Register. Early Puritans of the Colony of
Connecticut. )

The Rev. Robert Armstrong died April i6th, 1732.
He was father to Dr. John Armstrong. In the ceme-
tery in Castleton, on a horizontal slab two feet from
the ground, is the following inscription: "Here lies
the remains of the Rev. Mr. Robert Armstrong, who
died the i6th of April, in 1732, in the 72 year of his
age." "Also those of his first wife, Mrs. Hannah
Turner, who died in the year 1702; those of his sec-
ond wife, Mrs. Christian Mowall, who died the 17th
of Feb., 1753, aged 78. Of his daughter Helen —
she died in her infancy. Of his son, the Rev. William
Armstrong, who succeeded him in charge of his par-
ish. Died April loth, 1749, aged 38. And of his
daughter Mrs. Elizabeth Armstrong, who died Apr.
2d, 1764, aged 73."

In 1733, February 4th, Margrietjen (Margaret)
Armstreng, daughter of Jury (probably Joseph) Arm-
streng and Zusanna Armstreng, was baptized in the

amiiBftrongitf of tfyt dgfytttntt^ Ccnturp 367

Dutch Reformed Church at Kingston-on-Hudson.
(Register of the Old Dutch Reformed Church of
Kingston, New York.)

In the churchyard of Canonbie, as in most of the
Border cemeteries, are many tombstones with shields
of arms. One, both on account of the rude but cor-
rect armorial bearings which are sculptured upon it.

here represented, and also on account of its recent
disappearance, deserves to be noticed. The names
George and William Armstrong, and the date, August,
1733, alone were distinguishable in 1859., This shield
illustrates the Legend of the Broken Branch. (Sec
History of Liddesdale.)

James Armstrong, son of Thomas Armstrong who
died in Nedsongeried upon the Border in 1769, was
born in 1733. He lived 37 years, and died February
9th, 1770. (See pamphlet Armstrongs of the Border^
by Leonard A. Morrison.)

368 <(rf)roiticIeier of tt^t ^rmittrongj^

Jean Elliott, spouse to Thomas Armstrong of Sor-
bie, near Langholm, died July 24th, 1734, aged 51.
(History of Lidciesdale^ p. 103.)

William Armstrong, with his father, mother Janey,
his sister, his only uncle William Armstrong, and his
grandmother, emigrated from the County Fermanagh,
Ireland, to America and settled in Virginia, Augusta
County, in 1734, where they resided several years, when
the father moved to South Carolina. ' The son after-
wards moved from Augusta County, Virginia, to
Hawkins County, Tennessee. (Original records in the
possession of Rev. J. R. Armstrong, Kirkwood, Mis-
souri.)

Robert Armstrong of County Antrim, Ire-

' '^'^* land, emigrated to America in 1735, taking
with him his wife, Alice Calhoun Armstrong, and his
four-year-old son Robert. With them went also Mc-
Brides, Cunninghams, Bounds, and Calhouns. Soon
after landing at Philadelphia they moved to one of the
interior counties and settled upon the Susquehanna,
where they resided for many years. Prior to 1768
they and a number of their countrymen removed to
Abbeville District, now Anderson County, a settlement
formed in South Carolina by the Calhouns. Alice Cal-
houn Armstrong was sister to Patrick Calhoun, grand-
father of the eminent statesman John C. Calhoun.
Some of Robert Armstrong's descendants subsequently
settled in Tennessee. (See records of John McMillan
Armstrong, Chattanooga, Tennessee.)

Francis Armstrong in Fairlowe died October 9th,
1735, was born in 1672, lived 63 years. His birth is

Hvm^tnms^ of tf)e Cigfyttentt^ €tntwcp 369

recorded under its corresponding year in this work.
He was father of Adam Armstrong, who died February
13th, 1736, recorded again in this work. His death
is recorded on a sculptured stone, and can be seen to
this day (1893) ^" Canonbie churchyard upon the
Border.

Adam Armstrong, born about 1706, died February
13th, 1736. He was son of Francis Armstrong
in Fairlowe, who was born 1672 and died October
9th, 1735, at the age of 63. Adam had one son,
John. (On the tombstone it reads as follows: "And
Adam his son, who died Feb. ye 13th, 1736, also John
his son," ending without giving the birth or death of
John.) The record of his death can be seen to this
day on a sculptured stone in Canonbie churchyard on
the Border.

John Armstrong, son of James of Brookboro (see
1745) and afterwards Major-General, left Brookboro,
near Enniskillen, about the year 1736 and settled in
Pennsylvania. His brothers William and George either
went with him or soon followed. Edward was in
Pennsylvania as early as 1744. (Terwinney Records.
Records of John Armstrong Herman, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania. Records of Horatio Gates Armstrong,
Baltimore, Maryland. Records of James L. Arm-
strong, Brooklyn, New York.)

George Armstrong, son of James of Brookboro (see
1745) came to Pennsylvania with his brother John,
who settled in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He assisted him
in his surveying expeditions, and had warranted to
himself a number of valuable tracts of land. At the

370 CI)ronicIejtf of t^t %vm0ttonsii

breaking out of the French and Indian War he was
commissioned, May 22d, 1756, Captain in the Second
Battalion of the Provincial forces, and accompanied
his brother. Colonel John Armstrong, afterward Major-
General, on his expedition to the Kittanning. He was
recommissioned Captain December 12th, 1757, in
Governor William Denny's Pennsylvania Provincial
Regiment. Owing to some difficulty with Sir John
Sinclair he resigned his commission, but we find that
shortly after, June 4th, 1758, he was promoted Major.
On the 13th of April, 1760, he was commissioned
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Third Pennsylvania Bat-
talion, and for services rendered was granted five tracts
of land in the West Branch Officers' Survey. In 1756
he was directed by the provincial authorities to build
Pomfret Castle where it had been laid out by Major
James Burd as one of the projected forts of defence.
He resided in Allen township, Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania, and in 1782 was possessed of 230 acres
of land. In a notice in Kline's Carlisle Gazette of
1789 it is stated that his brother John was his "heir at
law." (See records of John Armstrong Herman, Har-
risburg, Pennsylvania.)

William Armstrong, son of James of Brookboro (see
1745) left Ireland with his brother John. He took
up a tract of two hundred acres of land west of the
Susquehanna on the 13th of January, 1737, on which
he located. He seems to have served in the defence
of the frontiers, was commissioned Lieutenant May 10,
1756, and was on the expedition to the Kittanning.
He was commissioned a Captain December 24th, 1757,

mrmitftronjitf of tfjc <Cig!t^tttntf^ €mturp 371

and appears by the archives of Pennsylvania to have
been an officer of considerable importance, especially
in forwarding ammunition and provisions to the scat-
tered and exposed outposts and block-houses. He was
recommissioned Captain July 4th, 1763, and on July
4th, 1764, promoted to Major of the Second Bat-
talion of the Provincial regiment, accompanying Col-
onel Bouquet's army to the Muskingum. After the
war he returned to his farm in Middleton township,
where he died prior to December, 1770, leaving a
wife Jean, and children John, William, Susannah,
Charity, Elizabeth, Alexander. (See records of John
Armstrong Herman, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.)

In a letter concerning the Indian raids from General
John Armstrong to R. Peters, dated Carlisle, Sunday,
November 2d, 1755, it is stated: "There are no in-
habitants on the Juniata now, nor on Tuscarora by
this time, my brother William being just come in."
[Colonial Records of Pennsylvania^ vol. 1 748-1 756.)

On the outskirts of the old part of the Canonbie
churchyard is a low headstone with the inscription:
"Here lies William Armstrong, who died June 30,
1737, aged 49 years, also Jane Elliott his spouse who
died Aug. 20, 1722, aged 39 years." (See 1688.)

Edward Armstrong, vicar of Killcolgan, Ireland,
married Isabella. They had the following children:

Martin, Edward, Jane, Anne, and . They are

said to have been descendants of Christie's Will. (Ul-
ster Office, Wills, vol. V, pp. 35—51.)

Robert Armstrong, shepherd, was born in 1739 and
died December ist, 181 1, aged 72. His death is re-

372 €t^vMitle0 of ti)e %tm0ttcnQti

corded in the cemetery in Castleton, Liddesdalc, and
can be seen at the present time.

Archibald Armstrong of Dughalurgher, in

' * the parish of Ataclinabuir, County Ferma-
nagh, emigrated to America about 1740 and settled in
New Castle, near Wilmington, Delaware. (See records
of Mrs. Adaline C. Carpenter, Wilmington, Delaware.)

"Jan. 10, 1740. Sad news from Anapolis Royal;
Col. Armstrong, Levt., Gov'r fell upon his own sword
and killed himself" (See 1725, 1730. New England
Hist, and Gen. Register.)

The Honorable Lawrence Armstrong was Captain, Major,
and Lieutenant-Colonel in the Fortieth Regiment of Foot
(British) — at present the First Battalion, Prince of Wales
Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment), which was raised in
Nevv England in 17 17. The captains in this regiment were
New Englanders, hence Armstrong was probably of American
birth. The History of the Fortieth Regiment^ recently pub-
lished and to be found in the Boston Public Library, will give
further particulars.

Captain Armstrong commanded a detachment of the regi-
ment at Canso, Nova Scotia, in 1724-25. In 1726 he ar-
rived at the Government House at Annapolis and produced his
commission as Lieutenant-Governor. He held this office until
1739. He seems to have been of an exceedingly sensitive and
excitable temperament, and in a fit of melancholy committed
suicide. He was found dead in bed with five wounds in his body
and his sword by his side. Devisees under his will are George
Armstrong of the Ordnance Department, etc. (See Savary's
History of Annapolis County. Murdoch's History of Nova Scotia.)

William Armstrong of Dublin married a Miss Cog-
lelan. Her will is dated May 21st, 1741. They had

laxmfftvtmts^ of ti)e ^i0f)teentl) Centurp 373

two sons and two daughters. They were Edward of
Gillan, Philip, Barbara, and Elizabeth. Edward of
Gillan (see 1745) married an Elizabeth. They had
children Andrew, Alice, and Anne. Said to have been
descendants of Andrew, nephew of Christie's Will.
(Ulster Office, Wills, vol. v, new series, pp. 35-51.)

The will of William Armstrong of Duncannon Fort,
County Wexford, is dated September 13th, 1742. He
married an Elizabeth. (Ulster Office, Wills, vol. v,
new series, pp. 35-51.)

The will of John Armstrong of Strabane, merchant,
is dated November 5th, 1744. He had four daugh-
ters, Jane, Margaret, Patience, and Mary. (Ulster
Office, Wills, vol. V, new series, pp. 35-51.)

Edward Armstrong of Terwinney, son of

' James of Brookboro, County Fermanagh,

Ireland, brother of General John Armstrong of Car-
lisle, Pennsylvania, left Ireland about 1744 and was
early identified in Pennsylvania with the French and
Indian War, being commissioned a Lieutenant in Cap-
tain Edward Ward's company May 22d, 1756. In
July of that year his company was stationed at Fort
Granville. On the 30th of the month Captain Ward
marched from the fort with a detachment for the Tus-
carora Valley, leaving Lieutenant Edward Armstrong
in command. Soon after the departure of the troops
the fort was surrounded by a hostile force of French
and Indians, who after a siege of several days succeed-
ed in setting fire to the defences, killing Lieutenant
Armstrong and several of his men, and capturing others
who were subsequently burned at the stake, while the

374 Cf)rontcIejtf of tf)e ^rmjtftrongjet

women and children were taken to the Ohio. An ac-
count of this transaction is in volume 7 of the Minutes
of the Provincial Council. Edward left a son in Ire-
land who was called Gentle James. (See records of
James L. Armstrong, 663 DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn,
New York. Day's Hist. Coll.^ p. 465, in the State
Library of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.)

Extract from letter from General Armstrong to Governor
Morris, Colonial Records, vol. ii, p. 232: "Walker says that
some of the Germans flagged very much on the second day,
and that the Lt. behaved with the greatest bravery to the last,
despising all the terrors and threats of the enemy whereby
they often urged him to surrender. Though he had been near
two days without water, but little ammunition left, the fort on
fire, and the enemy situate within twelve or fourteen yards of
the fort under the natural bank, he was as far from yielding as
when at first attacked. A Frenchman in our service, fearful
of being burned up, asked leave of the lieutenant to treat with
his countrymen in the French language. The lieutenant an-
swered, 'The first word of French you speak in this engage-
ment I'll blow your brains out,' telling his men to hold out
bravely, for the flame was falling and he would soon have it
extinguished; but he soon after received the fatal ball."

John Armstrong or Jack Armstrong, an Indian
trader, was murdered by the Indians at the Narrows
in Juniata, Pennsylvania, in 1744. His body was dis-
covered by his brother, Alexander Armstrong, and a
number of others, among whom was a James Arm-
strong. In an Indian raid thereafter the wife of James
and two of his children were taken prisoners by the
Indians. This was James of the Juniata district.
(Day's Hist. Coll. of the State of Pennsylvania^ p. 465.)

5Crm^tron03B{ of tf)e ^igfjteent!) Centitrp 375

In this year died James Armstrong of Brook-

' ^^* boro. He was son of Edward from the Bor-
der and grandson of Christie's Will (see 1650). His
sons Edward of Terwinney, George, William, John,
and his daughter Margaret went to Pennsylvania, his
son Andro and another daughter, Mrs. Graydon, re-
mained in Fermanagh. He is buried in Agahvea,
County Fermanagh, Ireland. The inscription on the
stone could be read in 1896. (Terwinney Records.
Agahvea Monument. See 1630. Letter from Ann
Buchannan to General John Armstrong, dated May
loth, 1809. Records of John Armstrong Herman,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.)

The will of Edward of Gillan (see 1741), Kings
County, Ireland, is dated April 9th, 1745. (Ulster
Office, Wills, vol. V, new series, pp. 35-51.)

Richard Armstrong married Margaret and had two
daughters, Margaret and Jane. (Ulster Office, Wills,
vol. V, new series, pp. 35—51.)

Simon Armstrong intends to marry Mary Cocks,
both of Falmouth (now Portland, Maine), November
14th, 1745. (See 1724. New England Hist, and Gen.
Register. )

Adam Armstrong died in 1749, aged 64. He was
son of Adam Armstrong, born about 1638, whose
birth is recorded in this work. His grave is in Canon-
bie churchyard on the Border, and the inscription on
the tombstone can be read to this day.

Rev. William Armstrong died April loth, 1749,
aged 38; born 171 1; was son of Rev. Robert Arm-
strong, who was born in 1660 and died April i6th.

370 €f)ronicIe^ of tf^e %vm0tttng0

1732, and brother to Dr. John Armstrong. He suc-
ceeded his father in the charge of his parish. The
record of his death, together with those of his family,
can be seen at the present time in the cemetery in Cas-
tleton on the Border.

John Armstrong and family of Bellcoo,

■ •^ * County Fermanagh, Ireland, emigrated from
that country about 1750 and settled in Bucks County,
Pennsylvania. (See records of Perry Austin Armstrong,
Morris, Illinois.)

Thomas Armstrong, son of John Armstrong of Dona-
hada (Donagheady?), County Tyrone, Ireland, emigrat-
ed to Pennsylvania between the years 1750 and 1755.
(See records of F. C. Cochran, Ithaca, New York.)

Among the old cemetery inscriptions in Stoneham
MS. we find the following: "Thomas, son of Thomas
Armstrong of Ireland, died June 5, 1753, in his 13th
year." (See 1717, 1756. New England Hist, and Gen.
Register. )

In a list of British officers serving in America, 1754
to 1774, are the following records: "Alexander Gray-
don, Ensign of the 60th Reg't. Aug. 23d, 1758." "Alex-
ander Graydon, Lieut, of the 60th in 60th Reg't. Sept.
14, 1760." "Alexander Graydon, Lieut, of 44th Reg't
Mch. 10, 1764." "Army, 14 Sept. 1760." A Lieuten-
ant Graydon is buried in Agahvea, near Brookboro. He
was related to the Armstrongs of Brookboro and Ter-
winney. County Fermanagh. Graydon is and was a rare
good name in Ireland. The family is not numerous;
they settled about the same time as the Armstrongs did
in Fermanagh County. (See 1762.) Bigol Armstrong

%tm0trtmsff of tf>e ^igfjtecntfi Centurp 377

was in the same regiment with him. (See New England
Hist, and Gen. Register^ vols, about 45-49.)

, Thomas Armstrong was Ensign of 35th Reg-

' -^ * iment, April 9th, 1756; Lieutenant April ist,

1762; Captain in 64th Regiment, February 2d, 1770;

and Ensign of 48th, in New England. (See 1753, ^7^7*

1759. New England Hist, and Gen. Regis ter^ vol. 48.)

We learn from an administration bond in the Public
Record Office of Ireland, executed December 2d, 1756,
that Anne Armstrong, otherwise Irwine, of Carrickma-
keegan in the parish of Drumreily, diocese of Kilmore,
County Leitrim, widow of John Irwine of Drumsillagh
in said county, and Achison Irwine, Esquire, of Long
in County Fermanagh, were bound to the Lord Bishop
of Kilmore in the sum of two thousand pounds sterling
to administer the estate of Martin Armstrong deceased
of Carrickmakeegan. The bond was sealed and deliv-
ered in the presence of Archibald Hartson and James
Irwin. This Martin was son of Alexander Armstrong
of Carrickmakeegan. (See 1721.)

In the cemetery at Ettleton in Liddesdale is the fol-
lowing inscription: "Here lies Archibald Armstrong.
He died Sept 15th, 1757, aged 65 years, also Margaret
Elliott his spouse, she died Feb 12. 1773, aged 69
years."

Thomas Armstrong, son of Thomas Armstrong of
Sorbie near Langholm, the first recorded in this history
as being of Sorbie, died 31st of July, 1758, aged 43.
[History of Liddesdale, p. 103.)

"July 8, 1759. 'Our men of Warr and Bomb Ships
began to play upon the French, the same day Gen.

378 €f^xomt\t0 of t^t %tm0tnm^

Wolfe with 3000 Regulars and Captain Durkee with
his Company of Rangers; as Capt. Durkee march'd in
the woods the Indians fired upon him, killed 15 of his
Men and wounded him & Capt. Lieut. Armstrong.' An
entry in the Journal of Daniel Lane, a private Soldier
at the Siege of Quebec in 1754." (See 1717, 1753,
1756, and records of Norwich, Connecticut. New Eng-
land Hist, and Gen. Register^ vol. 26.)

William Armstrong in Glingarbeckrows, born in
1705, died March i6th, 1760, aged 55 years. His death
is recorded with his brothers' on a tombstone in Canon-
bie churchyard on the Border, and can be seen to this
day (1893). He was brother to Robert Armstrong in
Hightree, who was born in 171 6 and died February
8th, 1760, aged 44, and to Thomas Armstrong, High-
tree, born in 171 6, died April 9th, 1765, aged 49.

X Joseph Armstrong, Sr., a native of the North

' ' of Ireland, emigrated to America about 1731,
settling in the Cumberland Valley, in what was subse-
quently Hamilton Township, Franklin County, Penn-
sylvania. He was active on the frontiers in the French
and Indian Wars, and was a captain in the Provincial
forces, serving almost continuously from 1755 to 1758.
He was with his relative Colonel John Armstrong at
the destruction of Kittanning, and was Provincial agent
in the building of the Great Road from Fort London
to Fort Pitt, now Pittsburgh, and represented Cumber-
land County in the Assembly from 1756 to 1758. He
died at his residence in January, 1761, leaving a wife
Jennet and children as follows: John, to whom he
left his plantation in Orange County, North Carolina,

%vm^ttmg^ of tf>e ^igfjtecntfj Centurp 379

yr/;'^ Thomas, Joseph, James, William, Catherine, and Mar-
/ garet.

Joseph Armstrong, Jr., son of Joseph and Jennet, was
born in Hamilton Township in 1739. Like his father,
he became very prominent in military affairs. The
name of the elder seems to have been invariably mis-
taken for that of the younger. When the War of the
Revolution opened, the son raised a company of asso-
ciates and was subsequently, July, 1776, placed in com-
mand of the Fifth Battalion, of Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania, serving in the Jersey campaign of that
year. He died August 29th, 181 1, and is buried in the
graveyard at Rocky Spring, under a massive and time-
worn tombstone on which is inscribed with impressive
simplicity the honored name of Joseph Armstrong. (See
Notes and ^eriesy edit. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, vol. iii,
3d series, pp. 206, 207. McCauley's History of Franklin
County y Pennsylvania. See 1731.)

Thomas Armstrong of Sorbie, near Langholm, Scot-
land, died May 14th, 1761, aged 81 years. [History of
Liddesdaky p. 103.)

Among the British officers serving in America is
mentioned Bigol Armstrong (see x'ji'j)^ who was
Major on July loth, 1762, Colonel Commandant of
the 60th Regiment December i6th, 1767, Lieutenant-
General May 25th, 1772, and Colonel of the 8th Regi-
ment October 22d, 1772. (New England Hist, and
Gen. Register^ vol. 48 or 47.)

Thomas Armstrong, Hightree, died April 9th, 1765,
aged 49; born in 17 16. He was probably twin brother
of Robert Armstrong, born in 171 6, died February

380 €!fytimit\tff of t^ Srmjtftrongj^

8th, 1760. The record of his death, together with
that of his brothers William and Robert, can be seen
at the present time in the Canonbie churchyard on the
Border.

, , Joseph Armstrong, born in Ireland 1686,
' * died at Norristown, Pennsylvania, September
29th, 1766. He had a son Ephraim. He was not the
relative of Major-General John Armstrong. (See rec-
ords of David Armstrong, Portsmouth, Ohio.)

In the cemetery at Ettleton, Liddesdale, is the in-
scription, "Here lies the body of Thomas Armstrong,
who died in Nedsongeried March loth, 1769, aged 80
years." He had two sons, James, born 1733 ^"^ ^^^^
February 9th, 1770, and William, born 1729 and died
March 2ist, 1774. (See 1729, 1733.)

Thomas Armstrong, with his two brothers

' ' ' whose names are now lost, left Ireland about
1770 for America. He became Major on General
Gates's staff. One of his brothers went back to Canada,
the other to Ohio and Illinois. (See records of Wil-
liam A. Armstrong, 39 East 42d Street, New York
city.)

A relative by marriage of Sir Edward Packenham,
named Armstrong, settled in Maryland about 1770.
(See records of John Alfred Armstrong, Knoxville,
Tennessee.)

In the cemetery at Ettleton, Liddesdale, is this in-
scription: "Here lies James Armstrong, who died Feb.
yc 9th 1770, aged 37 years." He was son of Thomas
Armstrong who died in NedsoAgeried March loth,
1769, aged 80.

%tmfittimfifi of tl)e Cif^tttntfy €mturp 381

In the old church-
yard at Canonbie on
the Border on a grave-
stone is the following
inscription, with the
coat-of-arms here rep-
resented: "John Arm-
strong in Whitleside,
who died Nov. iith,
1 77 1, aged 78 years
and his spouse Nico . ."
Whitleside and Caul-
side were the same
place.

Upon a gravestone in the old churchyard at Canon-
bie, Scotland, is the follow-
ing inscription, with coat-
of-arms here represented :
"John Armstrong weaver
in ' Wangslee who died
March the 21st 1773."

Among the names of
Captain John Haskins' com-
pany of British militia,
1773, Boston regiment, un-
der the name John Erving,
is one James Armstrong,
probably from Maiden,
Massachusetts. (New Eng-
land Hist, and Gen. Register^
vol. 26, p. 238.)

382 €t^nmt\tff of ffyt %tminnns0

In the cemetery at Ettleton, Liddesdalc, is the fol-
lowing inscription : " Here lies the remains of James
Armstrong, tanner in Kershopefoot, who died Jan. 4th,
1774, aged 69 years, and Janet Scott, his wife, who
died Mch 31st, 1800, aged 85 years."

William Armstrong, son of Thomas Armstrong who
died in Nedsongeried March loth, 1769, died in Ned-
songeried March 21st, 1774, aged 45 years. His tomb-
stone, and those of other members of the same family,
can be seen at the present time in Ettleton, Liddesdale.

George Armstrong, grandson of Thomas Armstrong
of Sorbie, near Langholm, Scotland, son of William
Armstrong of Sorbie, born 1751, lived 23 years.

"In 1775 William Armstrong was a member

' ' •^' of Capt. Levi Rounsvill's Company in the
9th Reg. of Continental Army." Recorded in office of
Secretary of State, Boston, dated October, 1775. [New
England Hist, and Gen. Register.)

Thomas Armstrong emigrated from the North of
Ireland to America about 1775 and settled in Still-
water, Saratoga County, New York. He had three
sons: James, born in Ireland; Thomas, born at sea;
and Aaron, born in America. (See records of James A.
Armstrong, Rose, Wayne County, New York.)

Captain William Armstrong, born in Carlisle, Eng-
land, April 20th, 1739, married Hannah Baker of
Marblehead, Massachusetts. Took up land in Read-
field, Maine; charter for same made out in London,
1775; place still owned by descendants. (See records
of J. H. Armstrong, Scranton, Pennsylvania, or Augusta
E. Leonard, North Monmouth, Maine.)

SCrmjertrongjBt of tf)e <(Si0l)tecntl) <tenturp 383
, Colonel William Armstrong of the British

I 7 7 O

' ' * Army went to America at the time of the

Revolution, and after the war married there. He was
born at Kirtleton, near Gilnockie, in Dumfriesshire,
Scotland, and was son of David Armstrong of Kirtle-
ton, sheriff of Dumfriesshire. According to the lineage
of the Armstrongs of Gilnockie, Westcombe Park, Lon-
don, this David was son of David and grandson of
Christie's Will. (See 1630 and records of D. Maitland
Armstrong, New York.)

One branch, supposed to be related to General Arm-
strong of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, left New York about
1776, professing to side with King George, They
fortified Armstrong Point, below Montreal, and took a
prominent part against the Continentals. (See records
of H. W. Armstrong, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.)

In 1777, November 19, Daniel Armstrong married
Hannah Lewis, "both of Norwich," New England.
(In the church records of Preston, Connecticut.)

Between the old kirk of Castleton and the

/ / v' river Liddel formerly stood the manse, on
the top of a precipice. It was here that the celebrated
poet and essayist. Dr. John Armstrong, author of 7^6e
Art of Preserving Healthy was born in 1709. His father
(see 1732), the Rev. Mr. Robert Armstrong, who died
April i6th, 1732, and his brother William ( 171 1, 1733,
1749) were ministers of this parish. He studied at the
Edinburgh University, and took his degree of M. D.
on February 4th, 1732. George Armstrong, M. D.,
brother of Dr. John Armstrong, died in 1767, and is
mentioned in this work under that year.

384

CI)ronicIeje( of tf^t ^Crmjettrongier

John Armstrong, M. D. Born i^og. Died 1779.

If yet thy shade delights to hover near

The holy ground where oft thy sire has taught,

And where our fathers fondly flocked to hear,

Accept the offering which their sons have brought.

Proud of the muse, which gave to classic fame
Our vale and stream, to song before unknown ;

We raise this stone to bear thy deathless name.
And tell the world that Armstrong was our own.

To learning, worth, and genius such as thine.
How vain the tributes monuments can pay !

Thy name immortal with thy works will shine.
And live when frailer marble shall decay.

3Cmiitftrongi^ of tf^t <Ci^tttntfy Ccnturp 385

There is erected upon the grave of Dr. John Arm-
strong a handsome monument, with the coat-of-arms
and verses opposite carved upon it. The shield gives :
argent, three dexter arms, vambraced in armor, couped
at the shoulder, in pale. Crest, an arm in armor, the
hand grasping a sword. Motto, Invictus maneo.

Dr. Armstrong in his poem on "Health" pays trib-
ute to his native plain with the following lines:

Such the stream,
On whose Arcadian banks I first drew air;
Liddal ; till now, except in Doric lays,
Tun'd to her murmurs by her love-sick swains.
Unknown in song, though not a purer stream
Thro' meads more flow'ry, or more romantic groves.
Rolls towards the Western main. Hail, sacred floor !
May still thy hospitable swains be blest
In rural innocence; thy mountains still
Teem with the fleecy race, thy tuneful woods
For ever flourish, and thy vales look gay
With painted meadows and golden grain.
Oft with thy blooming sons, when life was new.
Sportive and petulant, and charm 'd with toys.
In thy transparent eddies have I laved;
Oft traced with patient steps thy fairy banks,
With the well-imitated fly to hook
The eager trout; and, with the slender line
And yielding rod, solicit to the shore
The struggling, panting prey, while vernal clouds
And tepid gales obscur'd the ruffled pool.
And from the deep called forth the wanton swarms.

366 Cfjroniflejtf of tf)e %tmiittimg0

« Christopher Armstrong, third son of Gentle

' * James of Terwinney, left his home and set-
tled, it is said, in Armagh, County Armagh, about the
year 1780. (Edward Armstrong of Terwinney. Arm-
strongs of Armagh. See 1650.)

Andrew Armstrong, called The Warrior, went from
the estate of Terwinney, his home, near Ederney,
about the year 1780 to the County of Tyrone, and set-
tled about three miles from Drumquin. He was fifth
son of Gentle James (see 1650). Andrew married,
thereupon receiving his patrimony. (Edward Arm-
strong oF Terwinney.)

Thomas Armstrong left Cheshire, near Birkenhead,
England, about 1780 and settled in Halifax, Nova
Scotia. (See records of Emma D. Armstrong, Lewis-
ton, Maine.)

In 1780 and 1781 W. Armstrong commanded the
brig Little Porgia, 10 guns, 60 men. Listed among
the armed vessels built or fitted out in Massachusetts
from 1776 to 1783. {New England Hist, and Gen.
Regis ter^ vol. 26.)

"The W. Armstrong who commanded the brig in
1780 was one of the St. Stephens, N. B., Armstrongs.
They came from Sunderland, England." (Augusta E.
Leonard, North Monmouth, Maine.)

William Armstrong, son of Thomas Armstrong of
Sorbie, near Langholm, Scotland, and Jean Elliott, his
spouse, died July 31st, 1782, aged 72; first son, [His-
tory of Liddesdaky p. 103. See 1734.)

Artimesia Filmore, daughter of Comfort and Zerviah
of Norwich, Connecticut, born February 9th, 1764,

^ntii^trongjtf of ti)e <t^t0i)teentl) Centur|i 387

married September, 1782, Isaiah Armstrong and resided
in Franklin, Connecticut. [New England Hist, and
Gen. Register.)

Archibald Armstrong of the parish of Fogo, in
Berwickshire, Scotland, emigrated to America in
1785 and settled in Argyle, New York state. (See
records of Robert F. Armstrong, Northampton, Mas-
sachusetts.)

^. James Armstrong, surveyor, left Enniskillen,

' " Ireland, about June ist, 1786, and went to
America. He died September 20th, 1829, aged 75
years, and is buried in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Ancestor
of General Samuel Chapman Armstrong, founder of
Hampton Institute. (See records of Mathew C. Arm-
strong, Hampton, Virginia, and George W. Armstrong,
McEwensville, Pennsylvania.)

James Armstrong, son of Andrew and grandson of
James of Brookboro, Ireland, (see 1745,) went to
America under the patronage of Major-General John
Armstrong. Extract from letter dated May loth, 1809,
from Mrs. Anne Buchannon of Newtown-Butler to
Dr. James Armstrong of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, son of
Major-General John Armstrong: "The only branch
of the old stock now in existence is your Aunt Gray-
don, whose son William you knew of being killed in
America. She had another son who went to it abt. six
years ago, of whom you probably heard nothing. You
have many cousins here and other relations, some of
whom are living in great affluence, but as you are un-
acquainted with them I need not specify names; some
of them have distinguished themselves much at the bar,

388 Cijroniclejtf of ti)e ^ntij^trongitf

a Counsellor Deering, was a sitting Barrister at a late
Session in the town. As to myself I'm the oldest daugh-
ter of your Uncle Andw. Armstrong, who together
with my mother is some years dead. I and a sister are
the sole issue left by them in Ireland; of our only
brother James, the companion of your youth, we heard
nothing for many years; he went to America under the
patronage of your good father, who amply provided for
him and always mentioned him in his corresponding
letters with his friends in Ireland, but since his death
we heard no more of him, which gives occasion to our
fears and apprehensions that he must be dead."

David Armstrong of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, advo-
cate, is mentioned among the persons who had been
twice present at divine service where the officiating
minister had not taken the oath to King George, nor
prayed for the royal family. [History of Dumfriesshire
Families^ p. 67.)

Three brothers, James, born May 6th, 1773,

' " * Richard, born May 25th, 1775, and William
left their home in County Fermanagh, Ireland, and
sailed for America about 1790. They were ship-
wrecked off the coast of Nova Scotia. James landed in
New York city. Richard remained on the island
of Nova Scotia for several years. James proceeded
to Grcensburg, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania,
where Richard joined him in 1797 or 1798. Wil-
liam was landed after the wreck at Norfolk, Virginia.
James and Richard never saw William after the wreck.
(See records of Edward Armstrong, Pittsburg, Penn-
sylvania.)

%vm^znnQ0 of ti)e Cig^t^tttnt^ €enturp 380

John Armstrong, born about 1750, left Newcastle-
on-Tyne and went to America and settled in Virginia
towards the end of the eighteenth century. (See rec-
ords of John S. Armstrong, Wilmington, North Caro-
lina.)

Christian Elliot, spouse of Thomas Armstrong of
Sorbie, near Langholm, Scotland, he who was born
1715, died at Rickerton Mill June 9th, 1790, aged 61
years. (See History of Liddesdale.)

Helen Elliot, spouse to William Armstrong of Sor-
bie, who was son of Thomas Armstrong (see 1729) of
Sorbie, the first recorded in this work, died June 1 1 th,
1790, aged 72. (See History of Liddesdale.)

The present New Castleton in Liddesdale was
I 7 O '2 •

'"*^* founded March 4th, 179.3, ^7 Robert Mur-
ray, blacksmith, one of the principal proprietors, who
from his incessant ardor for building acquired the title
of Provost. This spot prior to that period contained
only one family. In the sixteenth century this ground
was called the Park, or Copshaw Park; here stood
Copshaw Tower, the home of Herbert or Erbe of the
Park, whose father was David Armstrong, brother of
Simon of Whithaugh. (See 1563-66.)

An Andrew Armstrong left the North of Ireland in
1795 and settled in Milford, Pennsylvania. (See rec-
ords of Andreas A. Armstrong, Oakland, California.)

Upon a gravestone in the old churchyard in Canon-
bie, Scotland, is the following inscription with coat-of-
arms illustrated on next page: "In memory of Master
John Armstrong of Riddings. Dec' 27th, 1796. Aged
51 years."

390

€fyxonitlt0 of tf)e Stcnijeitrong^

Q Several Armstrongs were implicated in the
'" * '98 Rebellion in Ireland. Captain Armstrong
of Ballycumber, a descendant of Andrew, nephew of
Christie's Will, was the one who furnished the govern-
ment with the information that led to the apprehen-
sion of the conspirators. A full account of this is to be
found in Leckie's History of Irelandy in which work he
is completely exonerated from any blameworthy action.
(See letter from E. E. Armstrong, Detroit, Michigan,
to James L. Armstrong, Brooklyn, New York, dated
April loth, 1898.)

Archibald Armstrong, who married Catherine Kava-
nagh from County Cork, but living in Dublin, was
obliged to leave the country at the time of the Rebel-
lion, and settled in France. (See records of William
Mitchell Armstrong, Everett, Massachusetts.)

2vmmonq^ of tl^e /9<neteent5 Centurr^

NE of the original Irish emigrants
who came over in 1718 and passed
the winter in Portland was John
Armstrong (see 171 8), husband of
Christian Bass, died in 1 805 ; mem-
ber of the First Church of Portland,
Maine. He had three sons and two daughters. They
were: John, who died November 20th, 1794, aged 46;
Samuel, Ebenezer, Rebecca, Mary, and Nancy. John
had six children. They were : Rebecca, Nancy, Samuel
Turrel Armstrong, John W., Elizabeth, and William.

In the cemetery in Castleton, in Liddesdale, is the
following inscription: "In memory of Robert Arm-
strong, Shepard, who died at Pinglehole Dec. ist, 181 1,
aged 72 : also Mary Clark, his spouse, who died Mch.
13th, 1 8 16, aged 59."

Lieutenant-Governor Samuel P. Armstrong headed
the subscription list for the preservation of the Ply-
mouth Rock in June, 1835. [New England Hist, and
Gen. Register.)

Following is a synopsis of family records in the pos-
session of the compiler of this work. These records are
too extensive even in their condensed form to include

3B2 €f^vonit\tii of tf)e 3irmjettrongjtf

in this volume. They will be well preserved and be at
the disposal of the senders.

Armstrongs of England, MS.

Sir William George Armstrong, Cragside, Rothbury, North-
umberland, England, who descends from John of Gilnockie.
See 1530, pp. 149 to 167.

Sir George C. Hughes Armstrong.

Sir Alexander Armstrong, Director-General of the Medical
Department of the Royal Navy, London, England.

Edmund Archibald Armstrong, No. 6 Oxford and Cambridge
Mansion, London, England, who descends from the Bally-
cumber Armstrongs, Kings County, Ireland, in the follow-
ing line: i, Warneford Armstrong {vide Burke); 2, Colonel
John Armstrong; 3, the Rev. John Armstrong; 4, Edmund
Archibald Armstrong.

Isabel Juliet Armstrong, Gilnockie, Westcombe Park, London,
England, who descends from Christie's Will in the following
line: 1, Christie's Will (see 1630); 2, David of Kirtletown ;
3, David (see p. 388) ; 4, Richard of Dumfriesshire; 5, John
of Godalming; 6, Dr. Charles Armstrong; 7, Charles Ed-
ward of Twyford, County Berks; 8, Charles Edward; 9,
Isabel Juliet.

General Records of Ireland from Ulster Court of Arms, MS.

Sir Walter Armstrong, Director of the National Gallery of
Ireland, Ceanchor House, Howth, County Dublin, Ireland.

William Charles Heaton-Armstrong of Farney Castle and
Mount Heaton, Ireland.

Andrew Armstrong of Glengin Garden, Canonbie, Dumfries-
shire, Scotland.

William Armstrong of Caulside, Canonbie, Dumfriesshire, Scot-
land, who descends from Erbie Armstrong. See 1793.

Armstrongs of Nova Scotia, MS.

Richard Fielder Armstrong, Halifax, Nova Sc tia, who de-
scends from Colonel Joseph Armstrong the elder in the fol-

Ulnn^tnmg^ of tfje l^inctcott!) Centurp 393

lowing line : i , Colonel Joseph Armstrong (see pp. 351,366,
378); 2, Captain William Armstrong of Orange County,
North Carolina; 3, Joseph Armstrong of Orange Countv,
North Carolina; 4, General James Watson Armstrong of
Macon, Georgia ; 5, Lieutenant Richard Fielder Armstrong.
Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. Armstrong, St. Johns, New Brunswick.

Armstrongs of United States of America, MS.

The following Addresses are arranged in the Alphabetical Order of States:

Henry Clay Armstrong, Auburn, Alabama, who descends from
James Armstrong, born 1776, in Hempstead, Rockland
County, New York.

Arthur Bradley Armstrong, Los Angeles, California, from
Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

Andreas A. Armstrong, 549 22d Street, Oakland, California,
descendant of Andrew Armstrong, from the North of Ire-
land, who settled in Pennsylvania. See 1795.

Allen H. Armstrong, 99 South i ith Street, San Jose^ Califor-
nia, a descendant of the Indiana Armstrongs, who came from
Pennsylvania.

J. P. Armstrong, Whittier, California. He descends from the
Armstrongs of Fergus, Ontario, Canada.

William Armstrong, Pueblo, Colorado. See James E. Arm-
strong, 529 West 62d Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Armstrongs of Norwich, Connecticut, who descend from Benja-
min and Jonathan Armstrong, in Nor^vich soon after its
establishment. See 1650, 1659, 1660, 1668, 1670, 1678,
1708, 1718.

James Richardson Armstrong, Jewett City, Connecticut. See
family records of James A. Armstrong, Rose, Wayne Coun-
ty, New York State.

Marshall Freeman Armstrong, 242 Cedar Street, New Haven,
Connecticut, son of Marshall Freeman Armstrong, who set-
tled in Quincy, Massachusetts, about the year 1852, and
who subsequently lived in Jersey City, New Jersey.

304 C[)ronicIejB( of tf^t %tm0tnnQft

Easter E. Armstrong, 104 Howe Street, New Haven, Con-
necticut.

Benjamin A. Armstrong, 74 Hempstead Street, New London,
Connecticut, who descends from the Norwich Armstrongs,
and of the firm of Brainerd & Armstrong, silk manufactur-
ers. New London, Connecticut. He descends from Jonathan
Armstrong of Norwich, Connecticut, in the following line :
I, Jonathan of Norwich (see pp. 331, 334, 337, 2SS)y 2»
Benjamin of Windham, Connecticut; 3, Benjamin; 4, Ben-
jamin of Franklin and Colchester; 5, Martin Dyer Arm-
strong; 6, Charles; 7, Benjamin. See Armstrongs of Nor-
wich, Connecticut.

Howard Ogle Armstrong, 402 West 14th Street, Wilmington,
Delaware.

Adaline Chandler Carpenter, 1102 Pennsylvania Avenue,
Wilmington, Delaware, who descends from Archibald Arm-
strong of Dughalurgher (Ataclinabuir Parish ?), Fermanagh,
Ireland, and who settled in Newcastle County, near Wil-
mington, Delaware, about 1740. See p. 372.

Arthur Armstrong, 1009 8th Street N. W., Washington, Dis-
trict of Columbia.

John Elmer Armstrong, Washington, District of Columbia,
who descends from Amaziah Armstrong of Elpis, New York.

James Armstrong, Jacksonville, Florida.

Mrs. William Harvey Burton, nee Armstrong, Chicago, Illinois.

Charles G. Armstrong, 1306-1307 Great Northern Building,
Chicago, Illinois. See also the family records of Perry A.
Armstrong, Morris, Illinois.

William Samuel Armstrong, Montrose Building, corner St.
Charles Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. See William Armstrong,
De Pere, Wisconsin.

Henry Briggs Armstrong, 663 Cleveland Avenue, Chicago,
Illinois.

George B. Armstrong, editor of The Indicatory 225 Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois.

^Crm^trongj^ of tt^t ^mttttntf) Centurp 305

Rev. Julius C. Armstrong, 743 Harrison Street, Chicago,
Illinois, who descends from John Armstrong of Bellcoo,
Fermanagh, Ireland, and who settled in America in 1789.
See records of P. A. Armstrong, Morris, Illinois.

David Milton Armstrong, 904 Racine Avenue, Chicago,
Illinois.

Frank Haugh Armstrong, Chicago, Illinois. See records of
James D. Armstrong, St. Paul, Minnesota.

James E. Armstrong, 529 62d Street, Chicago, Illinois. See
records of Perry Austin Armstrong, Morris, Illinois.

Robert Stewart Armstrong, 6421 Sherman Street, Chicago,
Illinois.

James Elder Armstrong, 529 West 62d Street, Chicago, Illi-
nois. See records of William Armstrong, Pueblo, Colorado,
who is a member of this family.

Edward Kent Armstrong, 159 West 66th Street, Chicago, Illi-
nois. See family records of George B. Armstrong, Chicago.

John Alexander Armstrong, 4227 Wabash Avenue, Chicago,
Illinois, who descends from David Armstrong of County
Antrim, Ireland. David's son settled in Argyle, Washington
County, New York. See records of Robert F. Armstrong,
Northampton, Massachusetts.

Edwin Robert T. Armstrong, 1509 Forest Avenue, Evans-
ton, Illinois.

Samuel McDowell Armstrong, Jacksonville, Illinois.

William W. Armstrong, Joliet, Illinois.

Perry Austin Armstrong, Morris, Illinois, descends from: i,
John Armstrong of Bellcoo, County Fermanagh, Ireland,
1750, emigrated to America in 1789; 2, Joseph Armstrong
of Bellcoo; 3, Perry Austin Armstrong. See p. 14.

Wesley P. Armstrong, Reno, Illinois, who descends from John
Armstrong of Georgia, born about 1764.

George Washington Armstrong, Seneca, Illinois, who descends
from John Armstrong, who came from Bellcoo, County
Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1789 and settled with his two cousins

396 €|)romcIeitf of tf)e %tmfntimtitt

in Pennsylvania. See family records of P. A. Armstrong,
Morris, Illinois; Rev. J. C. Armstrong, 743 West Harrison
Street, or 151 Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois; Charles
G. Armstrong, Great Northern Building, Chicago, Illinois;
J. E. Armstrong, Englewood, Chicago, Illinois. See p. 14.

Nel W. Armstrong, Evansville, Indiana.

William H.Armstrong, 127 South Illinois Street, Indianapolis,
Indiana, brother of Joseph Bewes Armstrong, Galesburg,
Illinois.

Charles Dorsey Armstrong, Jeffersonville, Indiana, who de-
scends from the Armstrongs who settled upon the Juniata
River in Pennsylvania. William Armstrong, who settled
upon the Juniata, was a brother of Major-General John
Armstrong. See 1736.

Mrs. Thomas McNamee, Wabash, Indiana, who descends
from Robert Armstrong of the province of Ulster, County
Antrim, Ireland, who emigrated to Philadelphia in 1735 and
settled on the Susquehanna, but later moved to Abbeville,
South Carolina, where he died. Some of his descendants
subsequently went to Tennessee. See p. 368.

Charles H. Armstrong, Burlington, Iowa.

John C. Armstrong, Marshalltown, Iowa.

William R. Armstrong, Odebolt, Iowa, a descendant of John
Armstrong of the County Cavan Armstrongs, and who set-
tled in Chicago. He came to America in 1853. See records
of John Alfred Armstrong, Knoxville, Tennessee. The
name Edward Packenham occurs in both records.

Major Frank C. Armstrong, Eldorado, Kansas.

Russel B. Armstrong, Kansas City, Kansas, who descended
from Robert Armstrong, who was taken by the Wyandotte
Indians when a boy. His son settled in Ohio.

Herbert Armstrong, 1009 Topeka Avenue, Topeka, Kansas,
who descends from the Norwich, Connecticut, Armstrongs.

Anna W. Armstrong, Lexington, Kentucky, who descends
from the Armstrongs of the Juniata, where William, brother

^Umiitftnmgjer of tt^t i^ineteentl) Centurp 397

of Major-General John Armstrong, was the founder of the
family. See 1736.

A. Joseph Armstrong, Louisville, Kentucky. In 1802 the
first settler came from Armagh, Ireland, and settled finally
in Charleston, Indiana.

Albert M. Armstrong, Pewee Valley, Kentucky, who descends
from Captain John Armstrong, who came out from Virginia
after the Revolution and established Harrod's P'ort, now the
town of Harrodsburg, Kentucky.

Emma D. Armstrong (Mrs. George D.), 29 Frye Street, Lew-
iston, Maine, who descends from the Halifax Armstrongs.

Miss Augusta E. Leonard, North Monmouth, Maine, who de-
scends from the Readfield, Maine, Armstrongs.

Simon Edward Armstrong, Portland, Maine, who descends
from the Armstrongs of Portland (old name Falmouth).
See 171 8.

Miss Alice Armstrong, 82 Myrtle Street, Portland, Maine,
who descends from the Portland, anciently called Falmouth,
Armstrongs. See 171 8.

Horatio Gates Armstrong, 102 Hopkins Place, Baltimore,
Maryland, descends from Major-General John Armstrong,
who came to Pennsylvania about 1736, in the following
line: i. General John Armstrong (see pp. 362, 2^3> 3^9,
37 ^> 373> 375)? ^» Brigadier-General John Armstrong; 3,
Major Horatio Gates Armstrong; 4, John Armstrong; 5,
Horatio Gates Armstrong. See family records of John
Armstrong Herman, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Alexander Armstrong, Hagerstown, Maryland, who descends
from William Armstrong of Pennsylvania, whose son lived
in Greencastle, Pennsylvania.

General records of Massachusetts.

Joseph Armstrong, 95 Falmouth Street, Boston, Massachu-
setts.

James R. Armstrong, Jefferson House, 16 and 18 North
Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Born in County Sligo 1850.

308 Cbrotiiclejtf of tf^t ^Crmitftrongjtf

Howard B. Armstrong, 112 Sycamore Street, Boston, Massa-
chusetts.

George W. Armstrong, Brookline, Boston, Massachusetts;
also of Windham, New Hampshire. Descends from the
Armstrongs of Agahdowey (see pp. 2SS ^^ 3^0 •" '^^ ^^^~
lowing line: i, Charter Robert, one of the original proprie-
tors of Londonderry, New Hampshire; 2, Deacon John
Armstrong of Windham, New Hampshire; 3, David of
Windham; 4, Robert of Windham ; 5, David of Windham;
6, George Washington Armstrong.

William Mitchell Armstrong, 32 Buckman Street, Everett,
Massachusetts, who descends from Archibald Armstrong of
Bordeaux, France. See 1798.

Robert F. Armstrong, Northampton, Massachusetts. See
family records of John Alexander Armstrong, 4227 Wabash
Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

Henry Morton Armstrong, Springfield, Massachusetts, who
descends from Ira Armstrong of (probably) Fletcher, Ver-
mont.

Bavard Wyman, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michi-
gan, who descends from the Norwich, Connecticut, Arm-
strongs.

The Duffield family, Detroit, Michigan, in which reference is
made to the Armstrongs of Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

I'-dwin E. Armstrong, 67 Watson Street, Detroit, Michigan, a
descendant of Christie's Will, who went to Ireland about
1630. He descends in the following line: i, Christie's Will ;
2, John of Longfield; 3, Colonel Robert; 4, Robert (pedi-
gree in Ulster Court); 5, Launcelot of Dublin; 6, Thomas
of Detroit, Michigan, born in Dublin June 2d, 1805, and
living at the present time (see p. 362); 7, Edwin Eugene.

Henry Irwin Armstrong, Detroit, Michigan, brother to Edwin
Eugene Armstrong mentioned above.

Luzerne DeForest Armstrong, Detroit, Michigan.

Denson H. Armstrong, 7 Richard Terrace, Grand Rapids,

3Crmitftnm0^ of tfjc ^inttttnt^ €enturp 399

Michigan, who descends from John Armstrong, who came
from England and settled in Burch Run, Michigan, about
1848. His son James Hatton settled in East Saginaw in
1858.

William Wesley Armstrong, Lansing, Michigan.

Richard C. Fosdick, 673 Ashland Avenue, St. Paul, Minne-
sota, descends from Solomon Armstrong, an officer under
Washington.

James D. Armstrong, 108 Globe Building, and John Milton
Armstrong, 147 Western Avenue, N., St. Paul, Minnesota,
descendants of Andrew Armstrong, who settled in Pennsyl-
vania before 1754.

Charles E. Armstrong and Richard S. Armstrong, Vicksburg,
Mississippi, who descend from Joseph Armstrong, cousin
of Major-General John Armstrong. See records of R. S,
Armstrong, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and 1761.

Rev. J. R. Armstrong, Kirkwood, Missouri, whose ancestors
first came from Fermanagh, Ireland, and settled in Augusta
County, Virginia, in 1734, then went to South Carolina, then
to Tennessee. See 1734.

H. N. Armstrong, Springfield, Missouri. His father, George
Hawkesworth Armstrong, came from England.

Ray Armstrong, Lincoln, Nebraska, a descendant of Thomas
Armstrong, born 1807, who came from Durham, Eng-
land.

George Davidson Armstrong, 516 South 13th Street, Omaha,
Nebraska.

Thomas Armstrong, 957 Lafayette Street, Elizabeth, New
Jersey.

A. A. Armstrong, M.D., Fair Haven, New Jersey. See family
records of Rev. Hallock Armstrong, Nelson, Pennsylvania.

Miss A. Gertrude Armstrong, no North F'ullerton Avenue,
Montclair, New Jersey, descends from the Armstrongs of
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

William Coleman Armstrong, Red Bank, New Jersey. See

400 €^vmitUfi of tf)e %vm0tttmis0

family records of Rev. Hallock Armstrong, Nelson, Penn-
sylvania.

Miss Clara Armstrong, Salem, New Jersey.

Hugh Armstrong, 74 Union Street, Trenton, New Jersey.

Samuel S. Armstrong, Trenton, New Jersey.

Mrs. Arthur A. Kellam, nee Cora Armstrong, San Marcial,
New Mexico.

General records of the Armstrongs of New York State, MS.

Miss Jessica K. Turner, Addison, Steuben County, New York.

Kdward Payson Armstrong, Bay Shore, Suffolk County, New
York, descendant of the Norwich, Connecticut, Armstrongs.

Mrs. Anna H. Armstrong Mildeberger, Hotel St. George,
Brooklyn, New York.

Hugh Alexander Armstrong, 29 Cumberland Street, Brooklyn,
New York, whose ancestors lived at Arthurush, County Ty-
rone, Ireland.

Richard M. Armstrong, 226 Sackett Street, Brooklyn, New
York, who descends from Robert Armstrong of Lanark,
Scotland, born about 1775.

Mrs. William Beard, «^^ Mary Armstrong, 144 Amity Street,

Brooklyn, New York, of the house of Terwinney. See
1650.

James L. Armstrong, of the house of Terwinney, 66^ DeKalb
Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, who descends from Christie's
Will in the following line: 1, Christie's Will (see 1630); 2,
Kdward from the Border (see 1650); 3, James of Brook-
boro; 4, Edward of Terwinney, County Fermanagh; 5, Gen-
tle James; 6, Kdward of Terwinney, called the White Arm-
strong; 7, James of White Plains and New York city, 1820;
8, Kdward; 9, James; his brothers are Francis, William,
Kdward, Howard; his sisters, Cornelia and Isabelle. See

PP- 362, 373» 374. 375-
Rev. Lynn P. Armstrong, 387 Pacific Street, Brooklyn, New

York, who descends from the Norwich Armstrongs. See

1659.

%vm0ttmq0 of tf^t l^tneteentf) Centurp iiOl

Henry A. Armstrong, Brooklyn, New York, descendant of
the Armstrongs of Kings County, Ireland. See family rec-
ords of Marshall Freeman Armstrong, 242 Cedar Street,
New Haven, Connecticut.

Miss Minnie Armstrong, 211 54th Street, Brooklyn, New
York, whose father was the eminent geologist, James Arm-
strong of Edinburgh. They descend from the Armstrongs
of Dumfries.

Charles Bennett Armstrong, 40 St. John's Place, Buffalo, New
York, descends from Oliver Armstrong born at Newport,
Rhode Island, November 19, 1755.

Adam Armstrong, 1 14 Glen Street, Glens Falls, New York,
descends from John Armstrong, who came from County
Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1809 to New York and settled in
Johnsburgh, New York.

Robert Armstrong, Glens Falls, New York.

James Clark Armstrong, Hudson, New York.

F. C. Cochran, 9 Hudson Street, Ithaca, New York; also
Mrs. Viola A. Cochran, 233 Elm Street, Northampton,
Massachusetts ; descendants of Revolutionary Colonel John
Armstrong of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; also said to be of
New Jersey. Colonel John's father, Thomas, was born
about 1725.

Frederick Perley Armstrong, Lockport, New York, who de-
scended from the John Armstrong who settled in Portland,
then Falmouth. See 1718.

David Maitland Armstrong, 58 West loth Street, New York
city, or Marlborough-on-Hudson, New York, descendant of
Gilnockie in the following line: 1, Gilnockie; 2, Christo-
pher (John's Christie); 3, William (Christie's Will); 4,
David of Kirtletown ; 5, David; 6, Colonel William Arm-
strong, British army ; 7, Captain Edward Armstrong, British
army; 8, David Maitland Armstrong. See 1630 and 1786.

George E. Armstrong, New York city.

William A. Armstrong, 39 East 42d Street, New York city,
26

aMwi^iaMlilMlliiitMilM*iMiMiitafa*Mi»iitai^^ iir'i[rii^«iri«i»i mn i niiriilitiiiiMiimiw r r

402 <ri)rontcIe^ of tfye %tmmwQ0

descends from Major Thomas Armstrong, who came from
Ireland to New York previous to the Revolutionary War
with two brothers, one of whom went north to Canada, being
a Tory.

George Armstrong, 2771 Bainbridge Avenue, Fordham, New
York.

David Wilson Armstrong, Hotel Bartholdi, New York city,
who descends from the Armstrongs of the Juniata River,
Pennsylvania. The first settler was brother to Major-Gen-
eral John Armstrong. See 1736 and family records of
Charles Dorsey Armstrong, Jeffersonville, Indiana.

Dr. E. V. Armstrong, United States Recruiting Rendezvous,
87 South Street, New York city.

Collin Armstrong, financial editor of the Evening Sun, New
York city, whose ancestor settled in Bennington, Vermont,
descends from Jonathan Armstrong of Norwich, Connecti-
cut (see pp. 331, 334, 337, 355) in the following line: 1,
Jonathan of Norwich; 2, Benjamin of Norwich; 3, John of
Norwich; 4, Hopestill of Norwich; 5, Hopestill of Ben-
nington, Vermont ; 6, David of Bennington; 7, Ethan of
Fayetteville, New York; 8, Collin. See family records of
Franklin Pierce Armstrong and Louis Frank Armstrong,
Bennington, Vermont; also R. C. Fosdick, St. Paul, Min-
nesota; also Mrs. Harriet Armstrong Bradford, Bennington,
Vermont.

Charles P. Armstrong, 9 West 75th Street, New York city,
descends from the Armstrongs of Fermanagh. See 1630
and 1650.

Dr. W. W. Armstrong, 233 West 39th Street, New York city.

Samuel Treat Armstrong, 29 Leland Avenue, New Rochelle,
New York.

Hatley K. Armstrong, 108 Main Street, Penn Yan, New York,
descends from Francis Armstrong, who came from the North
of Ireland to Long Island, New York. See 1727 and rec-
ords of Rev. Hallock Armstrong, Nelson, Pennsylvania.

3Crmj6ftrongitf of tf>c l^inctcentf) Centurp 403

John B. Armstrong, Troy, New York, who descends from
John Armstrong, whose brothers Robert and Adam came to
America in 1802, and James in 1807. (Probably Brookboro
Armstrongs.) See family records of Mrs. John Gillespie,
1332 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Inez Irene Armstrong, 247 Genesee Street, Utica, New York,
who descends from Hopestill Armstrong of Bennington,
Vermont. He descended from Benjamin Armstrong of
Norwich, Connecticut, 1659.

James A. Armstrong, Rose, Wayne County, New York, de-
scendant of Thomas Armstrong, who settled in Stillwater,
Saratoga County, New York. He was the father of the
Hon. Thomas Armstrong, member of the Assembly 1812
or 1815. See family records of James Richardson Arm-
strong, Jewett City, Connecticut.

Descendants of General Martin Armstrong of the North Caro-
lina militia, who came from Ireland in 1767 to Stokes Coun-
ty, North Carolina.

Descendants of Colonel Thomas Armstrong, North Carolina.

Ellie J. Armstrong, 504 South College Street, Charlotte, North
Carolina, who descends from Lerdy Armstrong, who came
from England in the early part of this century and settled in
South Carolina.

John S. Armstrong, Wilmington, North Carolina, who de-
scends from the Armstrongs of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Eng-
land.

John Armstrong, Akron, Ohio, who descends from the Arm-
strongs of Dukestown, Wales.

S. S. Armstrong, Cambridge, Ohio, descends from Joseph Arm-
strong, who came from County Down, Ireland, about 1809.

Henry A. Armstrong, Akron, Ohio.

Samuel Smith Armstrong, Cambridge, Ohio.

Charles Alexander Armstrong, Canton, Ohio, descends from
Alexander Armstrong, who came to America about 18 10.

George Walter Moore, 529 East Broad Street, Columbus,

404 dironiclejtf of tl)e %tmfitttmg0

Ohio, who descends on his mother's side from Rebekah
Armstrong, nearly related to Major-General John Arm-
strong of Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Armstrong Association, Mrs. Mary Armstrong Webb, 1123
Highland Street, Columbus, Ohio.

William M. Armstrong, 32 to 38 South Front Street, Colum-
bus, Ohio.

L. V. Armstrong, Dayton, Ohio.

Dr. K. E. Armstrong, Grand Rapids, Ohio.

W. H. H. Turner, Hustead, Ohio, who descends on his
mother's side from the Delaware Armstrongs.

Dr. John Stuckey, Lancaster, Ohio. See records of William
H. H. Turner, Hustead, Ohio.

Edward Armstrong, London, Ohio.

D. Armstrong, Portsmouth, Ohio, who descends from Joseph
Armstrong, who settled at Norriton, Pennsylvania. (Not
the Joseph who was "the friend and relation" of Major-
General John Armstrong. This Joseph settled at Norri-
ton; his son buried there; the other's son buried in Frank-
lin County.)

Samuel Pressly Armstrong, Salt Lake City, Utah.

General records of the Armstrongs of Pennsylvania, MS.

Martin L. Armstrong, Butler, Pennsylvania.

John Armstrong Herman, 304-306 Market Street, Harris-
burg, Pennsylvania, a descendant of Major-General John
Armstrong of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, who came to this coun-
try from Ireland about 1745-1748, in the following line:
I, Major-General John Armstrong; 2, Dr. James Arm-
strong; 3, Dr. John Armstrong; 4, Mrs. Mary Armstrong
Herman; 5, John Armstrong Herman. See pp. 362, 363,

369,375- ^

George W. Armstrong, McEwensville, Pennsylvania, descen-
dant of James Armstrong, who settled in Carlisle, Pennsyl-
vania, in 1786.

Lancelot W. Armstrong, Milford, Pennsylvania; also resident

3lnnitftrottgitf of tfje i^inrteottlj €cnturp 405

of New York city. Sec Armstrongs of Oakland, Cali-
fornia.

C. H. Armstrong, Mount Nebo, Lancaster County, Pennsyl-
vania.

Rev. Hallock Armstrong, Nelson, Pennsylvania, who descends
from Francis Armstrong, who came to Long Island in 1727.
See family records of Leroy G. Armstrong, Boscobel, Wis-
consin; Hatley K. Armstrong, Penn Yan, New York; A.
A. Armstrong, Fair Haven, New Jersey, and others.

Mrs. Mary Gillespie, 1332 South Broad Street, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, who descends from James, son of Robert,
both of whom came to Johnsburgh in 1 809 from near Five
Mile Town, near Enniskillen.

Dr. William Alexander Armstrong, 1 808 Park Avenue, Phila-
delphia, Pennsylvania.

Edward Armstrong, 7319 Butler Street, Pittsburg, Pennsylva-
nia, who descends from James, who landed in New York in
1790, and whose brothers Richard went to Nova Scotia and
William to Norfolk, Virginia. See 1790.

Edmund M. Armstrong, Verona, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, who
descends from the Armstrongs "who left New York about
1776 professing to side with King George," and went to
Canada. They fortified Armstrong Point, below Montreal.

J. H. Armstrong, Scranton, Pennsylvania, who descends from
the Armstrongs of Readville, Maine.

Frederick M. Armstrong, 14 Brook Street, Pawtucket, Rhode
Island.

Charles Banfield Armstrong, 57 Waterman Street, Providence,
Rhode Island, who descends from Martin Armstrong, an
English soldier who came here for a short stay in 1731.

Henry C. Armstrong, 2^ Taber Avenue, Providence, Rhode
Island, who descends from Martin Armstrong, a British sol-
dier, who came from Ireland on a visit for a short time and
went back to Ireland again about 1730.

Mrs. Hiram Sanborn Chamberlain, nee Amelia Isabella Mor-

408 CI)ronideitf of tt^t %vmtittonQ^

row, 237 East Terrace, Chattanooga, Tennessee, who de-
scends on her mother's side from Robert Armstrong of
County Antrim, Ireland, who emigrated to Pennsylvania.
See 1735.

John McMillan Armstrong, Chattanooga, Tennessee, father of
Turnley F. Armstrong and Zella Armstrong, descendants
of Robert Armstrong, who came from County Antrim, Ire-
land, and settled in Pennsylvania in 1735, then moved to
Abbeville District, South Carolina. See 1735.

W. H. Armstrong, 34 West 9th Street, Chattanooga, Ten-
nessee.

Robert F. Armstrong, Bleak House, Knoxville, Tennessee,
who descends from Robert Armstrong of County Antrim,
Ireland, who came to this country in 1735 ^"^ landed at
Philadelphia, then settled on the Susquehanna, then moved
to Abbeville District, South Carolina. See 1735.

Frank Armstrong Moses, Knoxville, Tennessee.

John Alfred Armstrong, 306 Craig Street, Knoxville, Tennes-
see, a descendant of , who settled in Maryland about

•750-
James Armstrong Dinkins, 200 St. Paul Street, Memphis,

Tennessee. See 1717.

John B. Armstrong, Austin, Texas.

Elmon Armstrong, P'ort Worth, Texas.

A. J. Armstrong, Dallas, Texas.

James B. F. Armstrong, San Antonio, Texas.

John W. Armstrong, 103 Park Avenue, San Antonio, Texas.

Harriet Armstrong Bradford, Bennington, Vermont, who de-
scends from the Norwich, Connecticut, Armstrongs.

William Nevins Armstrong and his sons Matthew C. Arm-
strong and Richard Armstrong, Hampton, Virginia, descen-
dants of James Armstrong, who settled in Carlisle, Pennsyl-
vania, in 1786. See 1786.

J. Clements Shafer, Richmond, Virginia, who descends from
Major-General John Armstrong of Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

3llrmiBftrongitf of tfjc l^inctecntlj <Centurp 407

See records of John Armstrong Herman, Harrisburg, Penn-
sylvania.

James E. Armstrong, 214 East Beverly Street, Staunton, Vir-
ginia, who descends from James Armstrong, who emigrated
to New York about 1700 from the North of Ireland.

Leroy G. Armstrong, M.D., Boscobel, Wisconsin, who de-
scends from Francis Armstrong, who came to Long Island
in 1727. See also family records of Hatley K. Armstrong,
Penn Yan, New York; A. A. Armstrong, Fair Haven, New
Jersey; Rev. Hallock Armstrong, Nelson, Pennsylvania.
See 1727.

CORRECTIONS.

Page 8. Venerable Bede should be Saxon Chronicler.

Page a8. (Odin) should be (Odin's son).

Page 68. 1603 should be 1600.

Page 1 58. A verse is missing, as follows :

"John wore a girdle about his midle
Imbroiderd owre with burning gold,
Bespangled with the same mettle,
Maist beautiful! was to behold.

Page 317. North Carolina should be South Carolina.

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

III II

3 9999 06173 987 4

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